THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 

OF  CALIFORNIA 

LOS  ANGELES 


^ 


rf 


>' 


MEMOIRS 


OF 


GEORGE  WHITEHEAD; 

A  MimSTER   OF  THE  GOSPEL 

IN    THE 

SOCIETY   OF    FRIENDS: 

BEING  THE  SUBSTANCE 

Of  the 

ACCOUNT   OF   HIS   LIFE, 

WRITTEN    BY    HIMSELF, 

And  published  after  his  decease,  in  the  year  1725, 

UNDER  THE  TITLE  OF 

''Ws  €iirfstian  ^voQvess;'* 

WITH 

AN  APPENDIX, 

CONTAINING    A    SELECTION    FROM    HIS    OTHER    WORKS. 


ALSO 
INTRODUCTORY    OBSERVATIONS. 


Bv  SAMUEL  TUKE. 


IN  TWO  VOLS.— VOL.  L 


"If  ye  had  known  what  this  meaneth,  I  will  have  mercy  ahd  not 
sacrifice,  ye  would  not  have  condemned  the  guiltless." 


I^htlatrelpftta : 

NATHAN  KITE— 64  WALNUT  STREET. 


1832. 


PREFACE. 


ISXl 


#•*>«» 


The  historical  account  which  George  Whitehead 
has  left  of  his  own  "  Christian  Progress,"  is  so  much  in- 
terwoven with  the  early  history  of  the  Religious  Society 
of  Friends,  that,  independently  of  the  instructive  exhi- 
bition which  it  affords  of  individual  character,  it  has  a 
strong  claim  on  the  attention  of  those  who  now  profess 
the  principles  which  he  advocated  so  boldly,  and  for 
which  he  suffered  with  so  much  constancy. 

These  Memoirs,  indeed,  contain  more  information 
relative  to  the  early  proceedings  of  the  Society,  than 
those  of  any  other  individual,  except  it  be  the  life  of 
George  Fox.  Convinced  when  under  age  of  the  doc- 
trines preached  by  that  reformer,  he  became  very  soon 
an  active  and  zealous  minister  of  the  truths  which  he 
had  embraced,  and  continued  for  nearly  seventy  years 
to  labour  by  word  and  example  in  the  support  of  them. 

It  has  been  the  lot  of  few  persons  to  occupy  an  active 
sphere  for  so  long  a  period  of  time  as  was  the  case  with 
George  Whitehead.  He  was  born  in  the  reign  of 
Charles  I.  Under  the  Commonwealth,  and  in  the  reign 
of  Charles  II.,  he  suffered  many  severe  persecutions. 
He  visited  several  times  the  court  of  Charles,  to  plead 
with  him  on  behalf  of  the  cause  of  religious  liberty. 
These  efforts  were  continued  during  the  short  reign  of 
James  II.  -,  and  during  the  reign  of  William  and  Mary, 
when  a  brighter  day  dawned  on  the  civil  and  religious 


VI  PREFACE. 

liberties  of  England,  he  exerted  himself,  by  personal 
and  written  representations,  to  obtain  for  the  Society 
the  free  exercise  of  religious  worship,  the  liberation  of 
the  mennbers  who,  chiefly  for  ecclesiastical  demands, 
were  still  suffering  cruel  imprisonments,  and  the  admis- 
sion of  the  affirmation  of  Friends  instead  of  an  oath  in 
all  civil  cases. 

He  had  several  interviews  with  George  I.,  in  which 
he  earnestly  pleaded  the  great  cause  of  religious  liberty; 
and  having  been  introduced  to  (he  young  prince,  after- 
wards George  II.,  he  endeavoured  to  impress  his  mind 
with  the  same  important  subject.  He  was  thus  during 
the  five  reigns  succeeding  the  Commonwealth,  one  of 
the  most  strenuous  advocates  of  our  principles,  and  of 
religious  liberty  in  general ;  and  very  frequently  the 
organ  of  the  Society  of  Friends,  at  the  court  of  the  En- 
glish monarchs. 

To  us  who  are  enjoying  those  civil  and  religious  pri- 
vileges, which  he  was  in  so  considerable  a  degree  in- 
strumental in  obtaining,  the  account  which  he  has 
given  of  his  proceedings,  though  it  may  at  times  be 
charged  with  prolixity,  can  hardly  fail  to  be  interesting. 

In  this  republication  of  George  Whitehead's  valua- 
ble work,  it  has  however  been  deemed  best  to  present 
many  of  the  details  in  a  curtailed  or  condensed  form. 
The  curtailments  are  chiefly  in  the  accounts  of  polemi- 
cal discussions  and  law  proceedings  ;  but  several  other 
parts  which  appeared  to  be  redundant,  have  been 
omitted  in  this  edition  ;  and  where  more  than  one  ac- 
count is  given  of  the  same  transaction,  that  which 
appeared  the  most  complete  has  been  selected,  or  the 
substance  of  the  whole  has  been  re-written  without 
adhering  to  the  author's  words. 


PREFACE.  Vll 

The  editor  has  also  ventured  in  several  cases  to  add 
a  few  historical  particulars,  to  make  the  work  more 
completely  illustrative  of  the  character  of  the  Society, 
and  the  state  of  the  public  mind  at  the  period  to  which 
it  refers.  The  whole,  notwithstanding  the  curtailments, 
will  give  the  reader  a  petty  clear  insight  into  the  rise, 
progress,  and  principles  of  the  Society  of  Friends  ;  nor 
will  its  details,  the  editor  trusts,  be  found  uninteresting 
to  the  inquirer  into  the  history  of  the  civil  and  religious 
liberties  of  England,  as  connected  with  that  most  im- 
portant and  interesting  period  of  our  annals  which 
these  Memoirs  embrace. 

The  present  work  was  originally  designed  to  have 
been  comprised  in  one  volume,  and  it  would  no  doubt 
have  been  more  agreeable  to  some  readers  in  a  more 
condensed  form ;  but  as  an  historical  record,  and  with 
a  view  of  preserving  the  clear  view  which  the  original 
memoirs  frequently  give  of  the  varied  engagements  of 
our  early  Friends,  much  greater  curtailment  than  has 
been  made,  did  not,  to  the  editor,  seem  desirable.  He 
is  nevertheless  far  from  imagining,  that  he  has  always 
drawn  the  line  exactly  where  it  ought  to  have  been, 
and  he  cannot  be  much  disappointed  if  he  should  have 
failed  to  please  his  friends,  since,  on  many  occasions, 
he  has  failed  to  please  himself.*  Leaving  however  his 
own  imperfections,  he  can  safely  recommend  the  peru- 
sal of  the  work,  to  all  those  of  the  Society  of  Friends, 
who  feel  an  interest  in  the  history  of  the  Church  to 
which  they  belong. 

*  The  editor  wishes  to  acknowledge  the  advantage  he  has  fre- 
quently derived  from  the  use  of  a  copy  of  the  "  Christian  Progress," 
marked,  with  a  view  to  a  somewhat  similar  republication,  by  his 
friend  Edward  Pease  of  Darlington. 


VUl  PREFACE. 

George  Whitehead  was  a  voluminous  writer.     Be- 
sides his  "  Christian  Progress  "  the  editor  has  before  him 
no  less  than  ninety  tracts,  some  of  them  of  a  very  con- 
siderable   length.     They    are    chiefly    controversial. 
The  earlier  ones  appear  to  have  been  written  in  much 
haste  ;  and   much   cannot  be  said  in  favour  either  of 
their  general  talent  or  temper.     In  both  these  respects, 
the    later    productions    are    decidedly    superior ;  and 
several  of  them  contain  clear  and  able  refutations  of 
the   charges  with  which  Friends  were  then  assailed. 
As  he  grew  in  years,  he  evidently  grew  both  in  graces 
and  in    gifts.     There   are  among    his    tracts  several 
"  Epistles  to  Friends,"  which  mark  deep  Christian  ex- , 
perience  and  a  truly  pastoral  care  over  the  Society. 
One  of  these,  printed  in  the  year  1689,  is  inserted  at 
the  close  of  the  work,  and  will  be  found  well  worthy  of 
perusal  in  the  present  day.     The  Appendix  also  con- 
tains the  last  controversial  work  in  which  the  author 
appears  to  have  been  engaged,   written  in  the  year 
1712  ;  and  an  important  document  issued  by  the  Soci- 
ety in    the    year    1693,   illustrative   of  its   Christian 
principles  at  that  early  period.     There  is  considerable 
reason  to   believe,  that  this  declaration  of  Christian 
faith   was  compiled  by  George  Whitehead  ;  and  its 
insertion  accords  with  the  editor's  design  in  the  publi- 
cation of  this  work,  which  is,  the  illustration  of  the 

HISTOnV    AND    PRINCIPLES   OF  THE  SoCIETY  OF  FrIENDS, 


CONTENTS 

OF 

VOLUME  THE  FIRST. 


PAGE 

Introduction 13 

SECTION  I. 

George  Whitehead's  reasons  for  preparing  his  own  memoirs. — 
His  account  of  his  early  life — and  of  his  convincement  of  the  doc- 
trines of  Friends.  31 

SECTION  II. 

General  prejudice  against  the  principles  of  the  new  Society, — 
His  parents'  views. — His  own  progress  and  experience,  and  a  state- 
ment of  his  principles  and  sentiments  in  regard  to  Christ  as  our 
Sacrifice — as  the  Light  of  the  world — Necessity  of  repentance. — 
Value  of  the  Holy  Scriptures. — The  New  Covenant — Gospel  min- 
istry. 39 

SECTION  III. 
His  travels  in  Yorkshire. — Visits  Lincoln,  Cambridge,  Norwich, 
and  Wymondhara. — Ranters. — Visits  other  places  in  Norfolk  and 
Suffolk. — Returns  to  Norwich. — Imprisoned  there. — Proclamation 
asserting  liberty  of  conscience. — Further  visits  in  Norfolk  and  Suf- 
folk. 49 

SECTION  IV. 
George  Whitehead  and  others  imprisoned  in  Edmunds'-Bury 
gaol — released  by  order  from  the  Protector. — Visits  London,  and 
returns  into  Essex  and  Suffolk. — Cruelly  whipped  at  Nayland, 
when  not  twenty-one  years  of  age. — Travels  afterwards  in  Essex, 
Suffolk,  Huntingdonshire,  Warwickshire,  Worcestershire,  Glou- 
cestershire, and  Herefordshire  till  the  middle  of  the  year  1657.      83 

SECTION  V. 

G.  Whitehead  travels  in  the  counties  of  Nottingham,  Derby, 
Leicester,  Warwick,  and  Stafford — and  in  the  winter  of  1657,  in 
Westmoreland,  Durham,  and  Northumberland. — Returns  by  York 
into  the  eastern  counties. — An  illness  at  Diss,  1658. — Imprisoned  at 
Ipswich. — Released  on  the  death  of  Oliver  Cromwell. — Meetings 
at  and  about  Ipswich.  101 

SECTION  VI. 
Has  many  disputations  in  the  years  1658  and  1659. — Account  of 
one  atEmneth  on  seventeen  points— At  Cambridge  with  the  keep- 


10  CONTENTS. 

er  of  the  university  library — at  Lynn,  with  the  Moorcans  or  Uni- 
versalists,  on  Christian  perfection,  Christ's  body,  &c. — A  second 
with  the  same  people,  succeoded  by  a  written  controversy.  113 

SECTION  VII. 

Disputations  with  a  Presbyterian  minister  at  Lynn,  on  the  Scrip- 
tures, the  resurrection  of  the  body,  the  Trinity,  &c. — with  an  Inde- 
pendent minister  at  Pulham,  on  the  Light  of  Christ. — Meets  a 
minister  in  the  steeple-house  at  Huddenham. — A  meeting  at  Pe- 
terborough.— Goes  to  Oakham — Coggeshali — Bristol.  133 

SECTION  VIII. 
Restoration  of  the  monarchy. — King  Charles's  declaration  for 
liberty  of  conscience. — Remarks  on  his  sincerity. — Fifth-monarchy 
men. — Proclamation  against  conventicles,  and  consequent  renewal 
of  persecution. — George  Whitehead's  imprisonment  with  others  in 
Norwich  castle  ;  released  by  the  king's  proclamation. — Henry  Ket- 
tle formerly  mayor  of  Xhetford. — Act  of  parliament  respecting 
Friends' refusal  to  take  any  oath. — The  endeavours  of  Friends  to 
prevent  the  bill  passing  the  House  of  Commons.  144 

SECTION  IX. 
George  Whitehead's  own  account  of  persecutions  in  London,  in 
1662  to  1664. — An  act  to  prevent  and  suppress  seditious  conventi- 
cles.— Persecution  in  London,  1665. — He  vists  the  northern  coun- 
ties, &.C.  and  returns  to  London. — Remains  there  during  the 
plague.  170 

SECTION  X. 

The  Oxford  five  mile  act. — George  Whitehead  addresses  two 
epistles  to  Friends  during  their  trials. ^The  great  fire  in  London, 
1666. — Friends  continue  their  meetings. — George  Whitehead  con- 
tinues principally  in  London — and  marries  in  the  year  1669. — In 
1686  he  lost  his  wife — and  in  1608  married  again. — The  narrative 
reverts  to  the  fire  in  London. — A  further  act  to  prevent  seditious 
conventicles  in  1670.  197 

SECTION  XI. 
Occurrences  1G66  to  1670. — George  Whitehead,  in  1670,  taken 
from  a  meeting  in  Grace-church  street. — The  mayor  ordersa  {)riest 
to  read  j)rayers  and  preach  in  Friends'  meeting-house. — Other 
meetings  disturbed. — An  order  of  court  to  prevent  Friends  meeting 
at  Plorslydown. — Proceedings  thereupon.  210 

SECTION  XII. 

Persecution  continued  with  little  abatement  till  the  king's  de- 
claration in  1673. — George  Whitehead  successfully  applies  to  the 
king  for  the  liberation  of  about  four  hundred  of  his  Friends — He 
travels  with  tlin  king's  Letters  Patent  under  the  Great  Seal,  to  ob- 
tain the  discliarge  of  his  Friends  in  Essex,  Suff'olk,  Huntingdon- 
shire, Cambridgshire,  Norfolk,  and  Hertfordshire.  He  consults 
Judofe  Hale  on  the  release  of  Friends  in  the  distant  counties — Pro- 
cures their  release  by  means  of  the  shcrifis'  coming  to  London.  230 


INTRODUCTION. 


It  may  not  perhaps  be  wholly  useless,  especially  to 
my  young  readers,  to  make  a  few  introductory  obser- 
vations, which  have  been  suggested  in  the  compilation  of 
the  present  work,  on  the  character  and  conduct  of  the 
early  Friends,  and  on  the  important  subject  of  liberty  of 
conscience,  the  history  of  which,  in  this  country,  will  be 
found  considerably  illustrated  in  this  Memoir. 

The  religious  Society  of  Friends  was  originally  an 
association  of  persons  earnestly  seeking  to  obtain  that 
true  knowledge  of  God  and  of  Christ,  which  is  life  eter- 
nal. JNIany  of  them  were  men  esteemed  in  the  several 
religious  professions  to  which  they  belonged,  for  their 
practical  experience  and  piety;  yet  notwithstanding 
what  (hey  already  knew,  their  consciences  were  not 
satisfied,  and  they  were  led  to  believe,  that  a  further 
acquaintance  with  Divine  teachings  than  they  yet  pos- 
sessed was  to  be  obtained.  They  felt  that  they  needed 
to  know  more  of  the  work  of  regeneration,  and  of  the 
power  of  Christ  to  renew  them  into  his  own  Image,  than 
they  experienced  under  the  various  teachings  and  or- 
dinances on  which  they  had  been  led,  in  part  at  least,  to 
depend. 

They  were  men  whose  minds  were  richly  imbued 
with  Scripture  truth,  and  not  a  few  of  them  were  very 
conversant  with  the  theological  controversies  of  their 
own  and  former  days.  Some  of  them,  prior  to  the 
preaching  of  George  Fox,  had  separated  themselves 
from  other  communities  and  met  together  in  a  very 
simple   way,   earnestly  looking  and   praying   for  the 

B 


14 


INTRODUCTION. 


fuller  knowledge  of  redemption  from  sin,  and  of  that 
peace  of  mind  which  passeth  all  understanding.  Whilst 
thus  seeking  for  Truth,  already  exposed  to  the  reproach- 
es of  their  self-satisfied  friends,  they  were  led  to  believe 
that  whilst  they  had  dwelt  much  on  the  atonement  of 
Christ,  they  had  not  sutliciently  dwelt  on  the  operations 
of  that  Holy  Spirit  and  Comforter,  who  was  to  consum- 
mate the  Gospel,  to  guide  into  all  truth,  and  by 
tvhom,  the  apostle  says,  through  Christ  zve  have  access 
to  the  Father.  Of  this  Divine  Communion  they  believed 
they  were  made  sensible  partakers, .  and  in  it  they 
found  that  consolation  which  they  had  long  sought  after 
and  prayed  for. 

As  it  was  by  sin  that  man  lost  the  Divine  Image  and 
excellence  in  which  he  was  created,  so  they  believed 
the  restoration  by  Christ  to  be  equal  to  the  loss  by 
Adam,  and  that  he  who  /'//('/  embraced  the  Gospel 
would  be  so  guided  into  all  truth,  that  sin  might  be 
eifectually  resisted  and  Christ  followed. 

These  views  of  the  operations  of  the  Holy  Spirit  and 
of  the  possibility  of  freedom  from  sin,  I  believe  to  have 
been  the  foundation  of  what  is  called  Quakerism  ;  and 
they  led  to  or  were  immediately  connected  with,  a  clear- 
er view  of  the  nature  and  spirituality  of  the  Gospel 
Dispensation — the  extent  of  the  apostacy  from  its  sim- 
plicity and  purity — and  the  inconsistency  therewith 
of  many  practices  which  prevailed  extensively  in  the 
reformed  Churches.  When  George  Fox  travelled  into 
various  parts  of  England,  calling  men  from  all  tradition- 
al knowledge,  by  wliich  in  the  days  of  the  apostacy 
Gospel  truth  had  been  overlaid,  to  the  teachings  of  the 
Holy  Spirit,  and  showed  the  conformity  of  his  views 
with  the  Divine  testimony  of  Scripture,  he  found  many 
prepared  to  receive  the  Truth  which  he  proclaimed,  as 
the  answer  to  their  prayers  and  the  direction  of  their 
search.  Though  the  embracing  of  these  truths  was 
the  occasion  of  obloquy  and  suffering,  they  were  wel- 
come to  them  as  the  dawning  of  tlie  morning  to  the 
mariner,  after  a  long  and  stormy  night. 


INTRODUCTION. 


15 


The  office  of  the  Holy  Spirit  or  Di\  ine  Light  as  the 
Guide  unto  all  Truth,  became  the  great  theme  of  their 
contemplation  and  their  preaching,  as  that  doctrine 
which  being  most  fatal  to  satan's  kingdom  in  men's 
hearts,  he  had  been  most  busy  in  perverting  ;  and  which, 
as  it  was  most  opposed  to  man's  unholy  nature,  so  it 
was  that  which  by  nature  he  was  most  willing  to  have 
concealed  from  his  view.  They  did  not,  as  was  imputed 
to  them,  set  up  this  doctrine  in  opposition  to  that  of  the 
atonement  and  mediation  of  Christ;  but  they  warned 
men  against  any  dependence  on  Christ,  without  know- 
ing Him  to  be  formed  in  them  and  their  hearts  to  be 
brought  into  subjection  to  his  Spirit.  They  did  not,  as 
they  were  aspersed,  set  aside  the  Holy  Scriptures,  to 
make  way  for  any  fancies  of  their  own  ;  but  they  warn- 
ed men  against  resting  satisfied  with  a  Scripture  know- 
ledge, without  knowing  the  true  faith  in  Christ  through 
which  alone  they  lead  to  salvation.  They  valued  the 
Holy  Scriptures  as  inspired  records  of  the  Divine  will 
— they  read  and  quoted  them  freely,  and  recommended 
to  others  the  perusal  of  them;  but  they  believed  that 
as  the  brazen  serpent  which  had  been  the  instrument 
of  the  Divine  mercy  to  the  Israelites,  afterwards  be- 
came the  object  of  their  idolatry,  so  were  there  many 
people  who  were  ready  to  worship  the  book,  whilst  thev 
neglected  or  opposed  the  Spirit  by  which  it  was  writ- 
ten. 

They  had  a  deep  sense  of  man's  corruption  and  of 
the  Divine  purity.  They  taught  that  every  motion  of 
good  in  the  heart  of  man,  from  the  first  conviction  of 
sin  to  the  full  assurance  of  faith,  was  through  the  im- 
mediate influence  of  the  Holy  Spirit.  That  in  man,  as 
man,  there  was  no  good  thing;  and  that,  as  it  was 
through  the  free  Grace  of  God  in  Christ  that  any  sin- 
ner was  awakened  to  the  error  of  his  way,  and  not 
essentially  through  any  outward  means  of  instruction, 
however  the  Divine  Influence  might  be  usually  connect- 
ed with  such  means;  so  it  was  to  that  Divine  Grace, 
as  the  means  of  still  further  enlightening  the  conscience 


16  INTRODUCTION. 

and  of  carrying  on  the  work  of  sanctification,  that  men 
were  to  be  nnainly  directed  to  seek. 

This  Divine  Light  in  ti)c  conscience  would,  they  be- 
lieved, lead  to  the  perception  that  many  things  were 
contrary  to  the  Divine  will,  which  were  not  esprciully 
pointed  out  in  Holy  Scripture ;  whilst  the  testimony 
of  the  Inspired  Writings  would  in  all  respects  be  con- 
firmed, and  the  i-cader  enabled  to  understand  them  to 
spiritual  edification.  The  Holy  Spirit  would  open  the 
mystery  of  Christ  truly,  glorifying  Him  and  receiving  of 
his  and  shewing  it  unto  us.  Thus  they  believed  the 
Christian  was  enabled  to  become  truly  wise — to  die 
unto  sin  and  to  be  made  alive  unto  righteousness. 

To  bring  men  to  the  knowledge  of  this  great  Teacher, 
was  the  labour  of  those  faithful  men  who,  like  the  sub- 
ject of  this  memoir,  were  singularly  called  and  endued 
with  power  to  preach  with  boldness,  and  to  rejoice  in 
bting  counted  worthy  to  suffer  for  the  Name  of  Christ. 

It  appears  that  what  these  Christian  worthies  were 
engaged  to  do,  was  not  to  add  another  to  the  many 
names  which  divide  Christendom  ; — it  was  not  merely 
to  testify  against  priestly  usurpation,  the  practice  of 
war,  oaths,  and  the  indulgence  in  some  particular  evi- 
dences of  the  worldly  spirit ; — these  were  the  accom- 
paniments of  their  great  and  paramount  engagement ; 
which  was  to  declare  God's  controversy  with  sin,  and 
the  means  by  which  it  might  be  subdued  ;  not  omitting 
to  proclaim  the  alone  ground  of  a  sinner's  pardon, 
through  the  propitiatory  sacrifice  of  our  Lord  and  Sa- 
viour Jesus  Christ. 

So  impressed  were  they  with  the  terrors  of  the  Lord 
for  evil,  and  the  unfathomable  depth  of  his  mercies, 
that  they  spoke  of  them  with  an  awful  reverence,  the 
feeling  of  which  induced  in  some  a  trembling  of  the 
body,  from  which  they  derived,  from  a  persecuting  magis- 
trate, the  name  of  Quaker ;  and  though  it  be  one  of 
scorn  and  reproach,  he  who  knows  and  has  felt  any 
thing  of  its  meaning  will  not  be  ashamed  to  own  it. 
For  however  conformable  any   may    be  in  what  are 


INTRODUCTIOJT. 


17 


termed  the  "  peculiarities"  of  our  Society,  if  they  have 
not  been  brought  to  see  their  lost  estate  by  nature,  and 
to  tremble  under  the  sense  of  the  Divine  displeasure  as 
the  prelude  to  the  hope  of  God's  mercy,  they  have  yet 
to  learn  the  very  rudiments  of  their  Quakerism. 

The  experience  of  the  true  Quaker,  though  it  may 
begin  and  be  carried  on  in  judgment,  will  be  accompa- 
nied by  and  will  end  in  mercy.  Nowhere  do  I  find  in 
Christian  records  more  striking  instances  of  hope  in 
Christ — of  joy  in  believing — and  of  the  assurance  of 
faith,  than  in  the  experience  of  those  who  were  in- 
strumental in  the  planting  of  our  Church.  They  had 
a  strong  abiding  sense  of  the  almighlincss  of  God.  The 
creatures,  however  powerful  they  might  seem,  sunk  in- 
to insignificance  in  their  view,  whenever  they  attempt- 
ed to  lift  their  puny  arms  in  contravention  of  what  they 
believed  to  be  the  Divine  will.* 

I  would  by  no  means  represent  them  as  free  from 
imperfection,  which  I  believe  attaches  to  all  the  exhi- 
bitions of  Christian  excellence  in  mere  human  form.  I 
cannot  myself  approve  of  every  act  which  I  read  of  in 
their  history;  1  confess  also  that  in  the  exaltations  of 
the  great  doctrine  of  the  Light  of  Christ  in  the  heart, 
they  do  appear  to  me  not  always  to  have  given  quite 
the  due  proportion  of  importance  to  the  outward  reve- 
lation of  Christ,  in  the  Holy  Scriptures ;  but  whilst 
making  this  concession  to  their  opponents,  which  truth 
constrains  me  to  make,  1  can  see  they  were  sincere  and 
devout  seekers  of  Divine  truth,  and  that  they  drank 
largely  at  the  Fountain  of  Divine  knowledge ;  and  when 
I  look  at  the  important  testimonies  which  they  main- 
tained— at  their  unwearied  labours — their  unfeigned 
love— their  steadfast  faith — their  constancy  and  meek- 
ness in  sutFering,  I  cannot  but  venerate   their  charac- 

*Dr,  Owen  in  his  work  on  spiritual  mindedness  has  well  obser- 
ved :  "To  bcliove  the  almighty  power  of  God  with  reference  to 
ourselves  and  all  our  concerns,  temporal  and  eternal,  is  one  of  the 
highest  and  most  noble  acts  of  faith,  which  includes  all  others 
in  it." 

B   2 


18 


INTRODUCTION. 


ter  for  their  works' sake  ;  I  believe  that  (licy  were  emi- 
nently raised  up,  to  recall  the  Church  of  Christ  from  its 
wanderings,  and  to  set  hefore  it  the  simplicity  and 
purity  of  its  primitive  faith  and  worship: — that  faith 
which  worketh  hy  love,  to  the  purifying  of  the  heart; 
and  that  worship  which,  through  the  Holy  Spirit,  is  to 
be  performed  in  the  temple  of  the  soul. 

Had  the  opinions  we  have  described  been  the  mere 
result  of  a  course  of  reasoning,  even  from  the  Holy 
Scripture  ;  and  had  they  not  been  accompanied  by  a 
lively  faith,  which  brouglit  them  so  into  action  as  to  op- 
pose the  interests  and  prejudices  of  many  of  their  fel- 
low professors,  they  might  have  been  permitted  to 
share  the  fate  of  the  party  to  which  they  happened  to 
belong:  but  when  their  views  not  oidy  led  them  to  re- 
frain from,  as  superstitious,  many  things  which  were 
highly  esteemed  in  the  religious  world;  but  also  to  go 
forth  zealously  to  proclaim  toothers  what  they  believed 
to  be  truth,  and  many  were  thereby  convinced  and 
led  to  desert  their  former  professions;  the  various  sects 
and  parties  of  that  day  were  stirred  up  as  with  one  ac- 
cord, against  this  people,  and  sncceedcd  in  persuading 
many  even  devout  persons,  that  the  Quakers  were  the 
enemies  of  religion  and  of  Christ.  No  imputations  were 
too  foul  to  charge  upon  this  people — no  indignity  too 
great  to  olFer — no  sullerings  too  severe  to  indict.  They 
became  at  once  the  laughing  stock  and  the  whipping 
stock  of  all  parties. 

Many  however  were  led  by  this  very  treatment,  to 
look  more  inquisitively  into  their  doctrines  and  man- 
ners; — they  remembered  that  the  way  of  Truth  had 
been  heretofore  every  where  spoken  against,  and  when 
they  found  that  these  objects  of  general  reproach  were 
industrious  in  their  callings  and  exemplary  in  all  the 
duties  of  social  life,  and  that  nevertheless  they  were 
ready  to  forsake  houses  and  lands,  parents  and  children, 
rather  than  disobey  what  they  believed  to  be  the  law 
of  Christ — the  inquirers  were  often  led  to  conclude,  that 
these  much  despised  people,  were  indeed  true  followers 


INTRODUCTION.  19 

of  Him  who  and  whose  discii)lcs  were  not  ol"  the  world, 
and  therefore  the  world  hated  them. 

And  it  is  worthy  of  remark,  how  much  this  kind  of 
conviction,  not  founded  on  a  minute,  inductive  process, 
but  resting  chiefly  on  what  may  he  termed  interiial  evi- 
dence, has  been  the  course  tiirough  which  the  Head  of 
the  Cliurch  has,  in  all  periods,  thought  fit  to  gather 
his  people  out  of  the  world.  In  the  opening  of  the  Gos- 
pel day,  though  accomjianied  by  extraordinary  mira- 
cles, there  was  much  of  this  process  to  be  observed ; 
and  in  the  subsequent  revivals  of  Divine  truth,  whether 
in  Germany,  Switzerland,  or  England,  it  will,  I  believe, 
be  found,  that  a  large  majority  of  converts  were  led 
by  a  sense  of  Truth  in  the  main — by  finding  a  con- 
formity of  the  doctrines  preached,  with  the  Witness  for 
God  in  themselves,  rather  than  by  a  course  of  minute 
investigation.  Indeed,  if  the  knowledge  of  the  Gospel 
required  this,  it  could  no  more  be  said  to  be  preached 
to  the  poor,  nor  plain  to  the  wayfaring  man. 

Many  among  the  early  converts  to  Quakerism,  who 
liad  been  wise  and  great  in  this  world,  were  made  to 
rejoice  in  the  laying  down  of  their  outward  wisdom, 
anil  in  sitting  down  in  deep  humility  to  learn  of  Jesus 
by  the  teaching  of  the  Holy  Spirit  in  the  heart,  who 
as  He  is  waited  for,  will  so  bring  into  remembrance 
what  Christ  has  said, as  to  make  his  words  Spirit  and  Life 
unto  them.  They  could  say  with  the  apostle  :  "I  glory 
in  nothing  save  in  the  cross  of  Christ,  whereby  I  am 
crucified  unto  the  world  and  the  world  unto  me." 

It  was  by  the  zealous  preaching  of  tliis  foolishness — 
and  by  the  illustration  of  it  in  lives  of  singular  piety 
and  self-denial,  that  our  fathers  were  gathered  to  be 
a  people;  and  it  is  only  by  a  similar  course,  that  we 
can  become  or  be  preserved  such  a  people  as  they 
were. 


The  conduct   of  the  Society  of  Friends,  as  detailed 
in  the  following  pages,    derives  an   increased  interest 


20 


INTIJODrCTION. 


from  its    intimate    connexion   with  the  history    of  our 
pro^^ent  rclitiious  Iil)er(v. 

Some  j)er.sons  doubt  the  propriety  of  reviving  the 
records  of  ancient  persecutions  ;  lean  truly  say,  they 
are  not  brought  forward  in  the  present  work  to  excite 
unpleasant  feeling  towards  any  sect  or  party  whose 
name  may  have  been  in  those  times  unhappily  connect- 
ed with  persecuting  proceedings.  But  the  fidelity  of 
liistory,  and  the  impoi-tant  lessons  which  are  to  be  de- 
rived from  experience,  recjuire  that  such  events  should 
not  be  concealed  or  even  allowed  to  be  forixotten.  On 
no  subject  are  the  lessons  of  past  experience  of  more 
importance,  than  in  what  regards  liherlt/  of  conscience. 
We  enjoy  this  privilege  in  an  eminent  degree  in 
England;  it  behoves  us  that  we  watch  over  it  with  a 
vigilant  care,  and  cherish  the  recollection  of  the  means 
by  which  it  has  been  obtained,  as  intimately  connected 
with  the  knowledge  of  those  by  which  this  invaluable 
blessing  is  to  be  preserved  and  extcMided. 

I  cannot  agree  with  those  who  think  that  religious 
privileges  can  neveragain  be  invaded,  and  that  the  diifu- 
sion  of iieneial  knowledge  in  England  is  an  ample  secu- 
rity against  the  recurrence  of  persecution.  The  spirit  of 
persecution  is  one  of  the  features  of  man's  depravity, 
intimately  connected  with  his  pride,  his  selfishness,  and 
his  lust  of  power;  and  unless  these  roots  are  extirpa- 
ted from  the  human  soil,  1  see  no  security  for  their  not 
bearing  sin)ilar  fruit,  though  varied  by  the  circumstan- 
ces of  climate  and  culture. 

Superstition  has  generally  been  intimately  con- 
nected with  persecution,  but  they  are  by  no  means  in- 
seperable.  Irreligion  is  no  less  opposed  to  the  claims 
of  tender  conscifncr,  than  superstition.  It  unites  at 
present  with  Christian  charit)"-,  in  the  opposition  to 
('hristians  j)crst(uting  one  another  for  their  various 
opinions;  but  this  is  (piite  a  diilerent  thing  from  the  re- 
cof^nition  of  those  inalienable  righls  of  conscience,  for 
which  our  early  Eriends  so  earnestly  contended  and  so 
patiently    sull'ered.      The    mere    worldly  philosopher, 


INTRODUCTION. 


21 


though  looking  with  deserved  contempt  on  the  violent 
animosities  of  contending  religionists,  and  thus  acting  as 
a  sulutary  ciieck  upon  their  violence,  has  an  equal  con- 
tempt for  what  appear  to  him  to  be  the  needless  scru- 
ples and  the  annoying  zeal  of  the  man  who  religiously 
exercises  himself  to  keep  a.  conscience  void  of  offence 
to7vanls  God  and  men ;  and  when  the  avoidance  or  per- 
formance of  those  things  which  the  Christian  engaged 
in  this  service  finds  to  be  required  of  him,  is  opposed  to 
the  views  of  the  philosopher,  no  one  is  more  ready  to  use 
his  authority  to  enforce  his  will  and  pleasure.  Amongst 
the  bitterest  persecutors  and  revilers  of  primitive  Chris- 
tianity, history  records  the  names  of  some  of  the  wisest 
and  mildest  of  the  Cesars,  and  the  most  liberal  and  en- 
lightened of  Roman  and  Grecian  philosophers.  The 
history  of  the  French  revolution  has  shown  that  perse- 
cution may  exist  under  a  government  which  has  re- 
nounced the  signs  and  substance  of  all  religion  except 
the  homage  of  an  unknown  Deity  in  the  pretended 
temple  of  reason.  Recent  events  have  also  shown, 
that  in  protestant  states  professing  liberal  opinions, 
direct  persecution  can  rear  its  head ;  and  in  our  own 
parliament,  the  claims  offender  conscience  have  lately 
been  treated  with  very  little  respect. 

Thus  the  idol  of  nniformily  has  been  set  up,  alike 
by  the  intidel  illuminati  of  France,  the  pope  of  Rome, 
the  Episcopalian,  Presbyterian,  and  Independent  pro- 
testants  of  England  and  Scotland,  and  lastly,  but  not 
less  strikingly,  by  several  of  the  once  Calvinistic  but 
now  it  is  said  Socinian  churches  of  the  Swiss  cantons. 

Persecution  under  all  '\is  forms  is  one  in  root.  It  is 
the  mystery  of  iniquity  setting  itself  in  the  place  of  God, 
and  attempting  to  rule  over  the  consciences  of  men.  It 
has  worked  and  will  continue  to  work,  wherever  the 
humbling  and  restraining  influences  of  Gospel  truth  are 
practically  unknown.  It  is  the  opposition  of  satan's 
kingdom  to  the  kingdomof  Christ ;  the  former  of  which 
stands  in  pride,  tyranny,  and  violence,  the  latter  in 
righteousness,  peace  and  joy  in  the  Holy  Ghost. 


22  INTRODUCTION. 

The  difference  between  satan  and  Christ's  kingdom, 
has  been  too  much  considered  an  affair  of  rvords  rath- 
er than  of  ihini(s.  IIow  often,  under  the  mask  of  re- 
ligious  zeal,  has  evil  been  as  busily  at  work  as  in  its 
most  obvious  manifestations.  Satan  has  hardly  more 
clFectually  established  his  cruel  kin^jdom  amongst  men 
by  the  worship  of  Moloch  in  heathen  countries,  than  in 
what  is  called  Chrislendom  by  setting  up  the  idol  of 
uniformity. 

Views  similar  to  these  appear  to  have  been  taken  by 
our  early  Friends,  and  to  have  led  them  to  raise,  at  a 
period  when  the  various  parties  were  each  contending 
for  power,  the  pure  standard  of  universal  liberty  of 
conscience  ;  and  to  press  upon  men  to  look  more  to 
the  genuine  fruits  of  the  Spirit,  as  the  tests  of  their 
Christianity,  than  to  any  form  of  \yords  or  any  explana- 
tions of  Divine  truth  which  human  wisdom  had  been 
able  to  propose  ;  and  it  is  no  mean  collateral  evidence 
to  the  general  correctness  of  their  theological  views, 
that  they  were  led  by  them  whilst  seeking  liberty  for 
all,  earnestly  to  contend  and  patiently  to  suffer  for 
what  they  believed  to  be  the  great  precepts  of  the 
Gospel  of  Christ — the  simplicity  of  his  worship  and  the 
purity  of  his  faith. 

It  is  worthy  of  notice,  that  in  almost  all  cases,  as 
churches  have  declined  in  purity,  they  have  increased 
in  zeal  for  circumstantials — for  words  and  systems 
rather  than  for  the  immutable  principles  of  Truth,  evi- 
denced by  holiness  of  life  and  the  humble  forgiving 
spirit  of  the  Saviour.  Then,  to  borrow  the  words  of 
Calvin  :  "  So  soon  as  any  word  is  spoken  of  the  abro- 
gating of  the  ordinances  of  men,  by  and  by  great  trou- 
bles are  raised  up,  partly  by  seditious  men,  partly  by 
slanderers,  as  though  the  whole  obedience  of  men  were 
at  once  taken  away  and  overthrown."  Nor  is  it  less 
observable  that  "the  most  virulent  enemies  of  vital 
godliness  are  often  extremely  tenacious  of  their  own 
inventions  in  religion,  by  which  they  dress  up  a  vain 
pageant  to  amuse  their  'consciences  and  to  impose  on 
the  ignorant."     Scoll  on  Mult.  xv.  1. 


INTRODUCTION. 


23 


Then  you  may  see  the  Christian  pharisee,  negligent 
of  the  weightier  matters  of  the  hiw — mercy  and  truth 
— earnestly  contending  for  tiie  tithe  of  his  anise  and 
cummin,  and  uniting  with  the  licentious  sadducee  in 
the  opposition  to  the  true  servants  of  Christ,  and  in 
defence  of  their  common  kingdom,  which  is  that  of  the 
god  of  this  world.  So  it  has  ever  heen  found  in  cor- 
rupt churciies,  that  men  may  be  formalists  or  licentious ; 
whilst  they,  who  in  a  tender  conscience  towards  God, 
are  led  to  refuse  compliance  with  their  institutions,  or 
who  are  constrained  by  the  love  of  Christ  to  proclaim 
aloud  to  sinners  the  mercy  and  the  judgments  of  God 
by  Christ,  and  to  rend  away  their  false  covering  and 
their  false  hopes,  have  over  been  the  objects  of  cruel 
persecutions  or  contumely.  There  is  a  striking  passage 
in  Lord  Cobham's  trial,  in  illustration  of  this  view  :  "For 
the  most  flagrant  trangressions  of  God's  moral  law," 
said  he,  "was  I  never  once  called  in  question  by  them.  I 
have  expressed  some  dislike  to  their  arbitrary  appoint- 
ments and  traditions,  and  I  am  treated  with  unparallel- 
ed severity.  But  let  them  remember  the  denunciations 
of  Christ  against  the  pharisees:  all  shall  be  fulfilled." 
Many  illustrations  of  a  similar  kind  will  be  found  in 
the  following  memoirs. 

Men  professing  to  be  the  holy  bishops  and  ministers 
of  Christ's  Church,  whilst  they  tolerated  amongst  them- 
selves covetousness,  extortion,  and  proiligacy,  perse- 
cuted to  death  the  conscientious  and  self-denying  dis- 
senter from  their  ordinances  ;  and  even  they  who  had 
those  vices  written  upon  their  front,  could  avow  them- 
selves as  the  champions  of  Christ's  Church  and  the  de- 
fenders of  his  faith.  Such  are  the  wolves  in  sheep's 
clothing,  who,  though  their  creed  may  be  cut  to  the 
exactest  orthodoxy,  have  ever  sought  the  destruction 
of  the  lambs  of  Christ.  There  is  still  great  reason  to 
unite  in  that  passage  of  the  prayer  attributed  to  Charles 
1.  during  his  aillictions :  "  Make  them  at  length  serious- 
ly to  consider,  that  nothing  violent  and  injurious  can 
be  relisious." 


24  INTRODUCTION. 

Whilst  however  we  believe  the  root  of  persecution 
will  be  found  in  the  corrupt  aifections  of  the  human 
heart,  and  that  our  utmost  vigilance  is  re(juired  to  re- 
press its  growth;  it  must  be  admitted  that  its  history- 
affords  many  instances  of  a  more  anomalous  character 
than  those  which  we  have  just  pourtrayed.  The  light 
of  the  reformation,  glorious  as  it  was,  did  but  partially 
dispel  the  mists  of  the  long  night  of  apostacy  which 
had  preceded  it.  What  Judaism  was  to  Peter,  educa- 
tional prejudices  and  opinions  were  to  many  good  men 
in  former  days,  when  they  were  first  awakened  to  see 
the  corruption  of  the  Romish  church.  Like  him  they 
were  led  to  take  far  too  exclusive  views  of  the  nature 
of  Christ's  Church,  and  hence  to  sanction  practices 
which  would  be  altogether  incompatible  witli  the  same 
degree  of  piety  under  the  clearer  views  of  the  present 
day. 

It  is  a  subject  of  more  than  mere  curiosity  to  inquire, 
how  those  clearer  views  have  been  obtained ;  and  it  will 
particularly  accord  with  the  position  of  the  present 
essay  to  inquire,  whether  our  religious  Society  has  had 
any  and  what  share  in  the  production  of  them. 

It  may  I  think  be  fairly  said,  that  at  the  time  of  the 
rise  of  our  Society,  there  was  no  class  or  body  of  men, 
who  admitted  that  every  man  had  an  unalienable  right 
to  worship  God  in  such  manner  as  to  his  individual 
conscience  appeared  right ;  doctrines  the  early  Friends 
boldly  maintained.  The  spirit  of  popish  exclusiveness 
hung  about  all  churches.  In  spite  of  the  noble  decla- 
ration of  Chillingworth,  that  the  Bible  and  the  Bible 
alone  is  the  religion  of  protestants;  each  church 
party  was  ambitious  of  an  impure  alliance  witli  the 
state,  that  they  might  enforce,  as  far  as  they  were  able, 
their  own  interpretation  of  Scripture  doctrine  and 
church  government:  and  wiiilst  the  more  active  spirits 
in  these  political  arrangements  were  rarely  those  who 
had  much  claim  to  Christian  character,  it  can  hardly 
be  doul)ted  that  many,  to  whom  we  cannot  deny  in  other 
respects  this  honour,  concurred  in  the  domineering  in- 


INTRODUCTION.  25 

fluence  of  their  own  party,  and  would  not  grant  to 
others  that  right  of  private  judgment,  the  refusal  of 
which  to  thenriselvcs  had  been  the  subject  of  their 
heavy  complaint.  Few  things  are  more  difficult  to  re- 
concile with  the  character  of  a  disciple  of  Christ,  than 
this . apparent  want  of  its  distinguishing  badge;  and 
the  long  continuance  of  such  discrepancies  in  what  is 
termed  the  reformed  Church,  ought  to  make  us  in- 
creasingly sedulous  to  seek  and  maintain  the  Truth 
in  its  primitive  purity  and  loveliness. 

Among  the  causes  which  contributed  to  prepare  the 
people  of  England  for  mutual  toleration,  the  variety 
of  its  religious  parties,  and  that  fluctuation  in  their  cir- 
cumstances by  which  they  were  all  by  turns  subjected 
to  suffering  and  raised  to  power,  within  the  few  years 
from  the  death  of  Charles  the  First  to  the  restoration 
of  his  son  to  the  English  throne,  may  fairly  be  enumer- 
ated. It  afforded  a  practical  lesson  on  the  folly  of  in- 
tolerance, and  the  wisdom  of  mutual  charity  and  for- 
bearance. Men  who  were  suffering  under  the  ecclesi- 
astical domination  of  others,  could  hardly  avoid  using 
arguments  for  their  relief  which  applied  to  others  as  well 
as  themselves  ;  and  those  who  had  used  such  arguments 
could  not  altogether  deny  their  force,  when,  themselves 
advanced  to  authority,  they  were  urged  bv  those  whom 
they  oppressed.  It  is  only  surprizing,  that  the  obsti- 
nacy of  men's  pride  and  prejudices  made  them  resist 
so  long  as  they  did  these  powerful  lessons.  They  had 
however,  doubtless  a  great  though  silent  influence,  and 
prepared  the  way  for  the  writings  of  such  men  as  John 
Locke,  and  Jeremy  Taylor,  and  William  Penn,  who 
nobly  advocated  the  cause  of  religious  liberty,  and  no 
doubt  produced  a  powerful  impression  on  the  public 
mind.  But  though  the  writings  of  several  members  of 
the  Society  of  Friends,  bear  ample  testimony  to  their 
views  in  regard  to  religious  liberty  ;  it  was  by  their 
conduct — by  arguments  of  a  practical  kind — that  they 
mainly  promoted  this  great  cause.  The  conduct  of  the 
Society,  as  detailed  in  the  following  pages,  appears  to 

VOL.  I.  c 


26 


INTRODUCTION. 


me  to  be  intimately  connected  with  the  history  of  our 
present  degree  of  religious  liberty.  They  held  many 
things  to  be  contrary  to  the  direct  injunctions  of  Christ 
or  the  spirit  of  the  Gospel,  which  others  held  to  be  ne- 
cessary or  lawful.  They  refused  actively  to  comply 
with  any  command  which  their  consciences  did  not  ap- 
prove ;  and  maintained,  that  the  civil  magistrate  had 
no  right  to  interfere  in  matters  of  religious  observance, 
or  to  enforce  any  act  which  was  contrary  to  a  man's 
conviction  of  right,  unless  it  were  absolutely  required 
by  the  welfare  of  the  state. 

How  bold  they  were  on  every  occasion  in  contending 
for  truth  and  justice,  and  patient  in  suffering  for  their 
testimony  to  them,  the  following  pages  abundantly 
show ;  and  it  is  remarkable,  that  under  the  persecu- 
tions which  more  or  less  attached  to  all  the  nonconfor- 
mists of  those  days,  the  most  peaceable  class  was  de- 
cidedly the  most  courageous.  Whilst  practically  main- 
taining the  doctrine  of  nonresistance,  and  therefore  ap- 
pearing to  support  the  principle  of  passive  obedience, 
there  was  not  any  people  who  made  such  large  and 
persisting  demands  for  full  liberty  of  conscience,  or 
who  did  more  to  influence  the  government  not  merely 
to  sanction  one  or  two  sects,  but  to  extend  the  princi- 
ple itself  It  was  evident  that  they  could  be  subdued 
by  nothing  short  of  extirpation  ;  for  whilst  no  violence 
or  cruelty  could  drive  them  to  resistance,  so  neither 
could  it  deter  them  from  the  steady  discharge  of  what 
they  esteemed  their  duty  to  God  and  men,  when  actual 
force  did  not  prevent  them.  The  account  of  these  un- 
compromising proceedings  and  their  results,  though  the 
former  were  esteemed  foolishriess  by  the  world,  is  full 
of  instruction,  and  affords  a  practical  comment  on  the 
words  of  our  Lord,  that  "  Wisdom  is  justified  of  all  her 
children." 


INTRODUCTION.  27 


Brief  notice  of  George  Whitehead  ;  taken  chief- 
Lv  FROM  the  Testimony  respecting  him,  given  by  the 
Monthly  Meeting  OF  Devonshire-house,  in  London, 
OF  which  he  was  a  member. 


He  was  born  at  Sun  Bigs,  in  the  parish  of  Orton,  in 
Westmoreland,  about  the  year  1636.  Pie  was  educa- 
ted at  a  grammar  school  in  the  neighbourhood,  and  ap- 
pears to  have  made  such  progress  in  his  literary  pur- 
suits as  to  have  been  employed  for  some  time  as  a  tutor. 
His  parents  had  a  view  to  educating  him  for  the  office 
of  a  minister  in  the  Established  Church,  and  his  reli- 
gious disposition  and  inquiring  mind  no  doubt  raised 
their  sanguine  hopes  of  his  titness  for  the  office.  In  his 
seventeenth  year,  however,  he  embraced  the  opinions 
of  the  then  universally  despised  Quakers;  and  in  the 
following  year  he  went  forth,  travelling  on  foot,  to 
preach  the  Truth  in  several  of  the  midland  counties, 
and  on  one  occasion  nearly  all  the  persons  composing 
a  meeting  which  he  was  addressing  were  convinced 
through  his  lively  testimony  and  prayer. 

"He  was  one,"  says  the  document  referred  to,  "  whom 
the  Lord  had  fitly  qualified  and  prepared  by  his  Divine 
Power  and  Holy  Spirit,  for  that  work  whercunto  he 
was  called,  and  whereby  he  was  made  one  of  the  most 
able  ministers  of  the  Gospel  in  our  day.  He  was  a 
large  experiencer  of  the  work  of  God  and  deep  myste- 
ries of  the  heavenly  kingdom,  and  was  frequently  open- 
ed in  meetings  to  declare  of  and  unfold  the  same,  in  the 
clear  demonstration  of  the  Spirit  and  Power ;  dividing 
the  word  aright,  to  the  opening  and  convincing  the  un- 
derstandings of  many  who  were  unacquainted  with  the 
way  and  work  of  Truth,  and  to  the  comforting,  confirm- 
ing, and  establishing  of  the  people  and  children  of  the 
Lord,  in  their  journey  and  travel  Zion- ward. 


28  INTRODUCTION. 

'•  He  was  not  only  a  zealous  contender  for  and  as- 
sertor  of  the  true  faith  and  doctrine  of  our  Lord  and  Sa- 
viour Jesus  Christ,  in  a  sound  an  intelligible  testimony, 
but  also  was  valiant  and  skilful  in  the  defence  thereof 
against  adversaries  and  opposers  of  the  same ;  and 
one  who  through  a  long  course  of  many  days,  was  care- 
ful to  adorn  the  doctrine  of  our  holy  profession  by  a 
circumspect  life  and  godly  conversation,  wherein  the 
fruits  of  the  Spirit,  viz,  love,  joy,  peace,  longsuffering, 
gentleness,  goodness,  faith,  meekness,  and  temperance, 
did  eminently  shine  forth  through  him  to  the  praise  and 
glory  of  God. 

"  Being  thus  qualified  and  of  a  meek  and  peaceable 
disposition,  he  was  had  in  good  esteem  amongst  most 
sorts  of  people  that  were  acquainted  with  him ;  which 
tended  much  to  the  opening  his  way  in  his  public  service 
for  Truth,  and  frequent  solicitations  unto  several  kings 
and  parliaments,  bishops  and  great  men  of  this  our 
land,  for  the  relief  and  release  of  his  suffering  friends 
and  brethren  under  sore  persecutions  and  hard  impri- 
sionments,  and  for  liberty  of  conscience,  and  also  for 
relief  in  the  case  of  oaths:  in  which  labour  of  love  and 
eminent  services  among  other  brethren,  this  our  dear 
Friend  was  principally  exercised ;  and  the  Lord  was 
with  him  and  made  way  for  him  in  the  hearts  of  the 
rulers  of  the  land,  so  that  his  faithful  labour  was  often 
crowned  with  success,  to  the  comforting  and  rejoicing 
of  the  hearts  of  many  suffering  brethren. 

"  He  was  a  good  example  to  the  flock,  in  his  diligent 
frequenting  of  first  and  week-day  meetings  for  public 
worship,  and  other  meetings  for  the  service  of  Truth,  so 
long  as  this  ability  of  body  remained  ;  willing  to  take  all 
opportunities  for  publishing  and  promoting  the  Truth; 
zealous  tosupportgood  order  and  discipline  in  the  Church 
of  Christ:  and  as  he  was  not  for  taking  hold  suddenly 
of  any,  so  he  was  exemplary  in  not  being  forward  to 
cast  any  off,  in  whom  there  appeared  any  thing  that 
was  good ;  being  always  desirous  to  encourage  the  good 
in  all,  condescending  to  the  weak,  but  admonishing  the 


INTRODUCTION. 


29 


faulty  in  the  spirit  of  meekness  and  wisdom,  that  they 
might  be  preserved  in  love  to  Truth,  and  come  into  the 
unity  of  the  one  Spirit  \vh?ch  is  the  bond  of  peace. 

"  We  may  truly  say,  he  was  a  tender  father  in  the 
Church,  and  as  such  was  of  great  compassion,  sympa- 
thizing with  Friends  under  atflict.ion  whether  in  body 
or  mind ;  a  diligent  visitor  of  the  sick,  and  labour- 
ing to  comfort  the  mourning  soul :  careful  to  prevent 
and  diligent  in  composing  differences. 

"Dear  Friends,  much  more  we  might  say  on  the  be- 
half of  this  our  dear  deceased  Friend,  an  elder  worthy 
of  double  honour ;  but  it  is  not  with  us  to  give  large 
encomiums  of  the  dead ;  we  have  rather  chosen  to  ^ive 
but  short  hints  of  some  of  the  Christian  virtues  and 
qualifications  he  was  endued  withal,  believing  there  is  a 
Witness  in  the  hearts  of  many  yet  remaining,  that  doth 
testify  for  him  and  his  faithful  labours  and  service  in  his 
day ;  desiring  the  Lord  may  raise  up  many  in  the  room 
of  this  and  other  worthy  elders,  some  of  whom  are  late- 
ly removed  from  us,  and,  we  believe,  taken  into  man- 
sions of  glory  in  the  kingdom  of  God. 

"  It  pleased  the  Lord  to  visit  this  our  dear  Friend 
with  some  severe  pains  and  weakness  of  body,  so  that 
he  was  disabled  for  some  weeks  from  getting  to  meet- 
ings ;  but  he  often  expressed  his  desires  for  the  welfare 
of  the  Church  of  Christ,  and  that  Friends  might  Uve  in 
love  and  unity. 

"  He  continued  in  a  patient  resigned  frame  of  mind 
to  the  will  of  God,  waiting  for  his  great  change;  rather 
desiring  to  be  dissolved  and  be  with  Christ,"  saying: 
'  The  sting  of  death  was  taken  away.'  He  expressed  a 
little  before  his  departure,  that  he  had  a  renewed  sight 
or  remembrance  of  his  labours  and  travels,  that  he  had 
gone  through  from  his  first  convincement ;  he  looked  upon 
them  with  abundance  of  comfort  and  satisfaction,  and 
admired  how  the  Presence  of  the  Lord  had  attended 
and  carried  him  through  them  all. 

"  He  departed  this  life  in  great  peace  and  quiet,  the 
8th  day  of  the  1st  month,  1722-3,  about  the  eighty- 

c  2 


30  INTRODUCTION. 

seventh  year  of  his  age ;  and  we  firmly  believe  he  died 
in  the  Lord,  and  is  at  rest  from  his  labours,  and  his  works 
follow  him. 

"  He  was  a  minister  of  the  Gospel  about  sixty-eight 
years;  and  was  buried  the  13th  of  the  1st  month,  in 
Friends'  burying  ground  near  Bunhill  Fields,  amongst 
many  of  his  ancient  brethren  :  being  attended  by  a  very 
large  number  of  Friends  and  others. 

"  Signed  in  and  on  behalf  of  the  Monthly  Meeting  of 
Devonshire-House,  the  15th  dav  of  the  3rd  month, 
1723,  by  forty  Friends." 


A  short  testimony  to  the  excellence  of  George  Whitehead's 
character  was  given  by  his  intimate  friend  Richard  Claridge,  who 
was  an  eminent  minister  of  the  Society. 


MEMOIRS,   &c. 


SECTION  I. 

George  Whitehead's  reasons  for  preparing  his  own  Memoirs. — His 
account  of  his  early  life — and  of  his  convincement  of  the 
doctrines  of  Friends. 

Remembering  the  Lord  our  Gracious  God  in  his 
ways,  and  merciful  deaHngs  with  me  from  my  youth  ; 
how  lie  found  me  among  his  lost  and  strayed  sheep,  on 
the  barren  mountains  of  fruitless  professions,  and  how 
He  drew  me  to  an  inward  experience  of  his  Power  and 
sanctifying  work  in  my  heart,  and  to  know  his  teach- 
ing and  spiritual  ministry  ;  thereby  to  enable  me  by 
degrees,  experimentally  to  minister  to  others,  and  oblige 
ine  to  live  accordingly  ;  as  also  to  suffer  patientlyj  with 
resignation  of  liberty  and  life  for  Christ's  sake,  when 
called  thereunto,  and  being  supported  by  his  Power, 
and  cheerfully  carried  through  many  great  trials  and 
deep  sutTerings  for  his  Name's  sake,  and  having  had 
many  eminent  deliverances  and  preservations,  even 
from  my  young  years  ;  I  say,  considering  these  things, 
I  have  been  the  more  concerned  for  my  friends  and 
brethren,  who  for  conscience'  sake  have  deeply  suffered 
by  imprisonments,  and  spoil  of  goods ;  and  in  the  ten- 
der bowels  of  Christ  Jesus  have  truly  sympathized  with 
the  faithful  in  their  sulferings  and  afflictions;  and  in 
His  love  been  many  times  moved  and  stirred  up  to  plead 
their  innocent  cause  before  authority,  as  well  as  to  so- 
licit with  great  industry  on  their  behalf;  wherein  the 
hand  of  the  Lord  has  been  often  with  me,  and  his  Pre- 


32  MEMOIRS    OF 

sence  and  counsel  have  strengthened  and  helped  me,  in 
answer  to  my  prayers  and  supplications  ;  and  his  Pow- 
er by  degrees  prevailed  to  molify  the  hearts  of  many  in 
the  several  governments  towards  us.  Glory  to  the  Name 
of  the  Lord  our  God,  who  pleaded  the  cause  of  the  in- 
nocent ! 

For  these  reasons,  a  concern  hath  long  been  upon  my 
spirit,  to  leave  some  remarks  and  footsteps,  by  an  his- 
torical account,  of  my  progress  under  the  Lord's  help 
and  conduct,  in  his  work  and  service  :  and  in  order 
thereto,  to  collect  from  divers  papers,  notes,  and  me- 
morials I  had  reserved,  some  of  those  exercises  and 
transactions  wherein  I  have  been  both  actively  and 
passively  concerned  on  Truth's  account ;  and  to  digest 
the  same  into  such  a  plain  method  as  briefly  as  I  well 
could,  and  as  1  thought  might  be  most  intelligible,  both 
in  point  of  fact  and  doctrine,  with  such  observations  as 
might  conduce  to  the  good  end  intended,  namely,  the 
Glory  of  God,  the  honour  of  his  excellent  Name,  and 
the  advantage  of  the  serious  reader,  the  more  to  con- 
sider of  his  Divine  Grace  and  goodness,  which  endure 
for  ever,  to  them  that  love  and  fear  Him. 

From  early  inclinations  and  desires  which  the  Lord 
was  graciously  pleased  to  stir  up  in  my  heart  towards 
his  blessed  Truth,  as  it  is  in  Christ  Jesus,  I  was  drawn 
to  be  inquisitive  after  the  knowledge  thereof,  and  how 
to  become  truly  penitent,  and  witness  a  true  amend- 
ment of  life  from  such  a  vain  conversation  as,  in  my 
childhood,  1  had  been  prone  to ;  being  partly  educa- 
ted under  a  Presbyterian  ministiy,  which  the  Lord 
showed  me  in  diveis  things,  came  short  of  what  they 
professed  atid  pretended  in  their  worships,  preachings, 
and  prayings;  insomuch  that  I  could  not  cordially  join 
with  them,  before  I  heard  of  the  people  called  Qua- 
kers ;  and  being  at  a  loss  in  my  spirit,  for  what  I  some- 
times secretly  desired  and  wanted,  I  was  as  one  be- 
wildered ;  and  wandered  farther,  seeking  among  other 
people  who  had  some  higher  and  more  refined  notions 


O.  WHITEHEAD. 


33 


concerning   Spiritual  Gifts,  &c.      I  was  then  about 
fourteen  years  of  aeje. 

After  a  short  time,  I  heard  of  some  people  called 
Quakers,  who  trembled  at  the  word  of  God  ;  and  ob- 
serving how  they  were  reviled  and  reproached  by  loose 
and  wicked  people,  occasioned  my  further  inquiry,  and 
thereupon  the  Lord  gave  me  to  believe  they  were  his 
people  :  and  I  did  contend  for  them  and  their  principles, 
so  far  as  they  were  represented  favourable  to  me,  before 
I  was  at  a  meeting  of  theirs,  or  heard  any  of  them 
minister. 

And  though  the  Lord  had  raised  good  desires  in  me 
towards  Himself,  that  1  might  know  true  repentance 
unto  life,  yet  those  desires  were  often  quenched,  and 
my  mind  led  away  through  an  airy,  light  disposition, 
after  music,  vain  mirth,  and  other  vanities.  Howbeit, 
the  Lord  was  graciously  pleased  secretly  to  follow  me 
with  judgment  and  reproof  in  my  very  young  years, 
and  renewed  desires  in  me  after  the  right  way ;  but  I 
wanted  to  know  a  stay  to  my  mind,  while  a  hearer  of 
the  priests  and  other  professors,  not  knowing,  nor  fol- 
lowing that  Light  of  Christ  in  me,  which  convinced  and 
reproved  me  for  the  sins  of  my  youth. 

The  light  shone  in  darkness,  as  in  a  dark  place, 
before  it  shone  out  of  darkness  :  the  Spirit  of  the  Lord 
moved  upon  the  waters,  even  when  darkness  was  upon 
the  face  of  the  great  deep,  before  his  works  of  old  were 
wrought ;  and  now,  in  order  to  bring  forth  his  works  in 
the  new  creation,  and  to  make  us  new^reatures  in 
Christ  Jesus,  his  Spirit  moves  upon  people's  hearts, 
even  when  unstable  as  waters;  and  his  Light  shines 
in  them  before  they  know  God  or  Jesus  Christ,  in  order 
to  give  them  the  knowledge  of  the  glory  and  power  of 
God,  and  of  his  dear  Son  Jesus  Christ. 

After  some  religious  discourses  with  some  young  men 
soberly  inclined,  and  when  we  had  newly  heard  of  a  few 
people  called  Quakers,  at  Sedbergh,  in  Yorkshire,  and  in 
Kendal  Barony  in  Westmoreland,  I  became  desirous  to  go 


34  MEMOIRS  OP 

to  a  meeting  of  theirs,  which  was  at  one  Captain  Ward's, 
at  a  place  called  Sunny-Bank,  near  Grayrig-Chapel. 

At  my  first  going,  when  I  came  into  tiie  said  meeting 
and  sat  down  seriously  among  them,  after  a  little  space 
of  silence,  a  friend,  one  Thomas  Arey,  spake  a  little 
while  of  the  spiritual  deliverances,  travels,  and  progress 
of  the  Lerd's  people  in  his  way  and  work;  alluding  to 
Israel's  delivercnce  out  of  Egypt,  from  under  Pharaoh 
and  his  task-masters,  &.C.  AH  this  1  thought  I  easily 
understood  allegorically,  as  spiritualized;  but  what 
was  most  observable  to  me  was,  there  appeared  to  Yne 
a  great  work  of  the  Power  of  the  Lord  in  the  meeting, 
breaking  the  hearts  of  divers  into  great  sorrow,  weeping 
and  contrition  of  spirit ;  which  I  believed  was  a  godly- 
sorrow  for  sin,  in  order  to  unfeigned  repentance. 

I  was  the  more  confirmed  herein,  on  seeing  a  young 
maid  go  mourning  out  of  the  meeting,  whom  I  serious- 
ly followed  to  observe  her  sorrowful  condition  ;  and  on 
beholding  her  seated  on  the  ground,  with  her  face  to- 
ward the  earth  as  if  she  regarded  nobody  present,  as 
she,  mourning  bitterly,  cried  out:  Lord  make  me  clean  ; 
O  Lord !  make  me  clean.  This  did  far  more  tenderly 
and  deeply  aflfect  my  heart  than  what  I  had  heard 
spoken,  and  more  than  all  the  preaching  that  ever  I  had 
heard  from  man ;  and  was  a  certain  testimony  to  me, 
the  Spirit  of  the  Lord  evidencing  to  my  spirit,  that  it 
was  a  real  work  of  his  Power  upon  her  heart ;  which 
also  operated  upon  the  hearts  of  others,  causing  tremb- 
ling, sorrot^%  and  contrition,  in  order  to  bring  them  to 
true  repentance  and  amendment  of  life,  and  so  truly 
to  experience  the  work  of  regeneration,  and  sanctifica- 
tion  from  sin  and  uncleanness;  and  accordingly  such  it 
proved  unto  many  :  glory  to  our  God  forever  ! 

These  things  having  made  deep  impression  upon 
my  mind,  1  was  the  more  confirmed  in  the  belief  I 
had  before,  that  the  Lord  was  at  work  among  that 
small  despised  people,  and  that  He  was  about  to  gather 
and  raise  up  a  people  unto  Himself,  to  worship  Him  in 
spirit  and  in  truth ;  for  such  He  seeks  to  worship  Him 


G.    WHITEHEAD.  '  36 

acceptably :  and  this  worship  is  not  in  the  dead  and 
empty  forms  set  up  in  the  will  of  man. 

Under  these  considerations  I  was  induced  soon  to 
leave  the  parish-priests,  or  ministers  made  by  the  will 
of  man,  having  no  Divine  authority  from  God,  nor  com- 
mission from  Clirist  to  teach  others  ;  tiicmsclves  not  be- 
ing good  examples  to  the  flock,  their  pride  and  covet- 
ousncss  being  contrary  to  Christ's  command  and  his 
ministers'  example ;  insomuch  that  I  knew  I  ought  to 
turn  away  from  them,  after  the  Lord  by  his  Light 
opened  my  eyes,  to  see  the  blindness  of  those  guides 
whom  1  had  followed  by  education  and  tradition. 

And  though  I  met  with  opposition  and  hard  speeches 
from  some  near  relations  and  others,  for  confessing  and 
vindicating  Truth  according  to  that  little  measure  of 
understanding  1  then  had,  being  as  yet  but  weak  and 
young  in  years,  and  beset  with  divers  temptations  and 
discouragements  ;  yet  the  Lord  my  God  helped  and  per- 
suaded me  to  take  up  a  resolution,  not  only  wholly  to 
leave  the  said  priests,  but  also  constantly  to  resort  to 
the  meetings  of  this  despised  people  called  Quakers, 
and  to  sit  down  among  them ;  though  then  but  few  in 
number,  in  comparison  of  what  they  have  been  since. 
The  meetings  which  I  frequented,  were  for  some  time 
in  Sedbergh  parish  in  Yorkshire,  and  sometimes  at 
Grayrig,  near  Kendal,  in  Westmoreland,  the  county 
where  I  was  born. 

Some  time  after  [  was  fully  convinced  and  my  mind 
turned  to  the  Light,  I  was  persuaded  and  resolved  to 
persevere  among  Friends;  before  I  Jicard  our  dear 
Friend  G.  Fox.  The  first  time  I  heard  him  minister, 
was  at  an  evening  meeting  at  Sunny-Bank,  at  Captain 
Henry  Ward's  house.  I  was  then  very  low,  serious, 
and  intent  in  my  mind;  willing  to  see  and  taste  for  my- 
self, for  my  own  inward  satisfaction  ;  and  I  saw  and  felt 
his  testimony  was  weighty  and  deep,  and  that  it  pro- 
ceeded from  life  and  experience,  and  did  bespeak  Di- 
vine Revelation,  and  tended  to  bring  to  an  inward  feel- 
ing and  sense  of  the  Life  and  Power  of  Christ,  and  the 


36  MEMOIRS  OF 

sanctifying  operation  thereof  in  the  heart.  His  speech 
was  not  with  atlected  eloquence  or  oratory,  or  human 
wisdom,  but  in  the  simphcity  of  the  Gospel,  to  turn  the 
mirid  to  the  Light  and  Life  of  Christ ;  and  the  Lord 
abundantly  blessed  his  ministry  to  many. 

Our  meetings  in  Sedbergh  were  often  at  Thomas 
Blaykling's  house,  whose  family  was  honest  and  of 
good  reputation ;  and  at  Gervas  Benson's  house,  who 
had  been  a  justice  of  the  peace  ;  at  Richard  Robinson's 
at  Brigflats,  who  was  an  innocent  faithful  man ;  and  at 
other  places  near  in  those  parts. 

Being  joined  to  the  said  people  in  derision  termed 
Quakers,  and  being  by  the  Grace  of  God,  resolved  to 
continue  and  persevere  in  their  communion,  and  to  wait 
upon  God  in  his  Light,  wherewith  He  had  enlightened 
my  understanding  in  a  good  measure,  I  had  great  satis- 
faction therein ;  being  sensible  that  our  society  and 
converse  with  one  another,  as  we  had  received  the  love 
of  the  Truth,  was  helpful  and  encouraging  to  us,  and 
tended  to  our  edification  and  comfort:  1  greatly  loved 
and  delighted  in  the  free  conversation  and  fellowship  of 
sober,  faithful  Friends. 

When  I  was  a  school-boy,  at  the  free  school  at  Blen- 
coe  in  Cumberland,  L  had  loved  retirement  with  sober, 
studious  scholars,  though  but  mean  and  poor  in  the 
world,  rather  than  the  company  of  loose,  extravagant 
boys,  though  of  the  gentry  or  richer  sort,  who  were 
given  to  much  play  and  gaming ;  for  in  that  company 
which  1  most  alfected,  we  were  the  most  profitable  one 
to  another  in  our  learning,  and  communicating  the  ef- 
fects of  our  studies  to  each  other :  much  more,  in  a  spirit- 
ual and  higher  sense,  when  v/e  were  in  some  degree 
come  to  know  the  blessed  Truth,  in  the  Light  of  our 
Lord  Jesus  Christy  our  Christian  society  and  communi- 
cations therein  of  our  inward  experiences  did  all  re- 
dound to  our  mutual  help  and  edification  in  the  love  of 
the  Truth,  as  it  is  in  Christ  the  Light  and  Life,  and 
our  great  Apostle  and  minister;  who  teaches  his  true 
followers  to  profit,  in  trhat  love  and  life  which  flows  from 


6.    WniTEUEAD.  37 

Him,  the  Fountain  and  Foundation  of  all  our  mercies; 
to  whom  alone  be  the  praise  and  glory  thereof  for  ever- 
more ! 

As  to  the  progress  which,  by  Divine  assistance,  1 
came  to  experience  in  the  work  of  the  Lord  Jesus 
Christ  in  me,  after  I  came  to  be  settled  in  my  mind  and 
conscience  to  join  in  communion  with  the  said  people, 
and  to  frequent  their  assemblies  as  aforesaid;  the  Lord 
by  his  Light  and  Grace  of  his  Holy  Spirit,  fully  per- 
suaded me  that  without  being  converted  as  well  as  con- 
vinced, and  without  being  regenerated,  sanctified,  and 
born  again,  1  could  not  enter  into  his  kingdom  nor  be 
an  heir  thereof;  and  that  the  godly  sorrow  unto  repent- 
ance, and  a  real  amendment  of  life,  must  be  wrought 
by  his  Grace  and  good  Spirit  in  me ;  and  that  without 
holiness  none  can  see  God. 

Upon  these  and  such  serious  Christian  considerations, 
I  was  persuaded  by  the  Grace  of  God  to  give  up  in 
obedience  to  follow  Christ  Jesus;  to  believe  in  and  obey 
his  Light  given  me;  and  to  wait  therein  diligently,  to 
receive  power  from  Him  to  become  a  true  child  of 
God  ;  for  to  as  many  as  truly  receive  Christ  the  Son  of 
God,  He  gives  power  to  become  sons  of  God. 

I  saw  it  was  my  place  to  retire  inward  to  the  Light, 
to  the  Grace  of  God,  the  immortal  incorruptible  Seed, 
the  ingrafted  Word,  which  is  our  Divine  Principle,  and 
frequently  testified  of  among  the  said  people,  according 
to  Holy  Scripture:  and  my  mind  being  turned  to  this 
Light,  I  came  plainly  to  see  my  inward  and  outward 
state;  how  much  fallen  into  a  state  of  degeneration, 
and  how  much  depraved,  corrupted,  and  alienated  from 
the  Life  of  Christ  and  of  God.  The  very  vanity  of  mind 
and  thoughts,  wherein  I  had  been  wandering  and  es- 
tranged from  the  Light  and  Life  of  Christ,  became  my 
great  burden  and  exercise  to  be  delivered  from,  that  I 
might  be  truly  renewed  in  the  spirit  of  my  mind,  and 
therein  joined  to  the  Lord.  Being  persuaded  to  wait 
in  the  Light,  in  the  way  of  his  judgments,  and  to  bear 
and  submit  to  his  fatherly  chastisements  and  reproofs 

VOL.  1.  D 


38  MEMOIRS    Ate. 

of  instruction — believing,  that  Sion  must  be  redeemed 
through  judgment,  and  her  converts  with  righteousness 
— vain  thoughts,  imaginations,  and  wanderings  of  the 
mind,  became  a  suffering  and  burden  to  me,  and  I  earn- 
estly sought  the  Lord  for  power  to  suppress  them,  and 
that  He  would  give  me  victory  over  them  all,  and  stay 
my  mind  upon  Himself,  that  I  might  enjoy  inward 
peace  with  Him. 

In  waiting  upon  God,  and  sincerely  seeking  after  Him 
with  my  mind  inwardly  retired,  and  my  soul  desiring 
and  breathing  after  his  Name  and  Power,  He  was  gra- 
ciously pleased  often  to  renew  his  merciful  visitations 
to  my  poor  soul,  and  in  the  midst  of  judgment  and 
chastisements  to  remember  mercy,  that  He  might  be 
feared  ;  and  the  sense  hereof  did  soften,  break,  and  ten- 
der my  heart,  and  cause  me  to  be  the  more  mindful  of 
the  work  of  the  Lord  our  God,  and  the  more  to  con- 
sider the  operation  of  his  Divine  Hand,  whose  dealing 
with  me  was  in  judgment  and  mercy  ;  his  Eternal  Word 
by  judgment,  caused  fear  and  trembling  in  his  presence ; 
and  by  showing  mercy,  brokenness  and  true  tender- 
ness of  heart.  And  in  the  lively  remembrance  there- 
of, I  find  still  great  cause  to  ascribe  the  praise  and 
glory  to  his  excellent  Name,  power,  and  Divine  good- 
ness, manifest  through  his  dear  Son,  even  the  Son  of 
his  Love,  our  blessed  Lord  and  Saviour  Jesus  Christ. 


(39) 


SECTION  II. 

General  prejudice  against  the  principle  of  the  New  Society — His 
parents'  views — His  own  progress  and  experience,  and  a  state- 
ment of  his  principles  and  sentiments  in  regard  to  Christ  as  our 
sacrifice — As  the  Light  of  the  world — Necessity  of  repentance 
— Value  of  the  Holy  Scriptures — The  New  Covenant — Gospel 
Ministry. 

Many  of  the  Presbyterian  priests,  in  those  early  days, 
in  Westmoreland  and  other  northern  parts  of  England, 
appeared  very  envious  against  us,  in  the  years  1652, 
1653,  1654,  &.C.;  and,  in  their  lectures  and  sermons, 
much  bestirred  themselves  to  revile  and  reproach  the 
Quakers  and  their  ministers,  terming  them  deceivers 
and  antichrists,  come  in  the  last  times ;  gathering  what 
evil  and  false  reports  they  could  against  us,  and  all  to 
incense  their  credulous  hearers ;  thereby  setting  both 
neighbors  and  families  at  variance  and  discord,  like  in- 
vidious sowers  thereof. 

I  have  known  some  of  their  hearers,  even  of  my  own 
relations  and  others,  when  they  have  come  from  their 
public  worship,  and  from  hearing  a  preachment  against 
the  Quakers,  who  have  come  full  fraught  therewith,  to 
talk  and  prate  against  them,  oftentimes  nonsense :  some- 
times I  have  returned  them  a  Christian  answer,  which 
when  rejected,  I  have  many  times  found  it  my  place  to 
be  silent,  and  let  them  clamour  and  scoff  on  ;  the  lead- 
ers of  the  people,  even  those  priests,  caused  them  to 
err,  and  with  their  sour  leaven,  soured  the  spirits  of 
many  into  enmity. 

My  parents  were  hurt  by  them,  and  the  more  in- 
fluenced against  me  for  a  time;  until  the  Lord  turned 
their  hearts  and  opened  their  understandings,  to  see 
better  than  they  could  by  following  their  blind  guides, 
whose  work  was  to  make  divisions  among  relations; 
yet  their  trouble  and  grief  came  more  from  their  priest's 


40  MUMOIRS  OF 

influencing  them  against  ns,  and  fear  of  my  misfortune  or 
or  losing  preferment  in  the  world,  than  from  any  preju- 
dice against  me  or  my  religious  persuasion  ;  tor  they  re- 
tained a  real  affection  to  me :  and  in  the  time  of  my  be- 
ing about  three  years  absent  from  them  in  the  ministry 
and  service  of  the  Truth,  and  in  that  time  sulfering 
several  hard  imprisonments  and  otherwise  for  the  same, 
in  Norfolk  and  Sutlblk,  were  much  reconciled ;  and 
when  I  returned  to  visit  them  they  were  loving,  and 
their  understandings  and  hearts  were  opened  toward 
me  and  my  Friends,  who  came  to  visit  me  at  their 
house. 

My  mother,  some  years  before  her  decease,  was  real- 
ly convinced  of  the  Truth,  and  became  a  Friend  in 
her  heart.  And  my  father  seeing  the  corruption,  pride, 
and  avarice  of  the  priests,  retained  a  love  toward 
Friends  till  the  end  of  his  days.  Likewise  my  sister 
Anne,  before  the  death  of  her  mother,  became  a  friend 
to  truth  and  Friends,  and  continued  an  honest,  loving, 
and  serviceable  woman,  until  death. 

It  is  observable,  when  the  Priests  could  not  prevail 
to  stop  the  progress  and  spreading  of  the  blessed  Truth, 
and  Power  of  Christ,  nor  prevent  the  increase  of  our 
Friends  by  all  their  reviling  sermons  and  preaching 
against  us,  their  work  was  to  endeavour  to  incense  the 
magistrates,  justices,  and  the  government,  against  the 
the  People  called  Quakers;  whereupon  divers  justices 
and  officers  were  instigated  to  persecution,  and  imprison- 
ed many  of  our  friends  in  Kendal  and  Appleby  Goals 
in  Westmoreland,  for  bearing  testimony  against  them. 

And  I  was  moved  in  the  dread  and  fear  of  the  Lord, 
to  bear  public  testimony  against  their  wickedness  in 
several  of  their  places  of  worship  in  Westmoreland,  be- 
fore I  travelled  into  the  south  parts  of  England,  yet 
the  Lord  was  pleased  to  preserve  me  then,  from  any 
harm  or  imprisonment. 

Some  time  after  I  was  conversant  among  our  friends, 
and  frequented  the  meetings  to  which  I  belonged  in 
Westmoreland  and  Yorkshire,  chiefly  between  the  years 


6.    WHITEHEAD. 


41 


1652  and  1654, 1  was  much  inwardly  exercised  in  wait- 
ing upon  the  Lord  in  Ihem.  We  had  but  little  preach- 
ing, our  meetings  being  kept  much  and  often  in  si- 
lence; yet  the  Lord  was  pleased  sometimes  by  his 
Power  and  Word  of  Life,  both  to  tender  and  open  my 
heart  and  understanding,  so  that  He  gave  me  now  and 
then  a  few  words  livingly  to  utter  in  some  meetings  to 
my  friends,  and  to  our  mutual  comfort,  in  Him  who 
opened  our  hearts  in  great  love  one  to  another.  Blessed 
be  the  Lord  our  God  for  ever ! 

It  was  out  of  these,  and  such  our  frequently  silent 
meetings,  the  Lord  was  pleased  to  raise  up,  and  bring 
forth  living  witnesses,  faithful  ministers,  and  true  pro- 
phets, in  early  days  in  Westmoreland,  and  other  nor- 
thern parts,  in  the  years  1654,  1655,  &c.  The  Lord 
our  God  having  in  these  latter  days  and  times,  been 
pleased  to  visit  this  island  with  his  Gospel-day  and 
rower,  according  to  his  promise  unto  the  Gentiles,  and 
the  isles  that  should  wait  for  his  Law ;  and  that  his 
Elect,  his  Christ,  (in  whom  his  soul  delightcth)  should 
bring  forth  judgment  to  the  Gentiles,  Isa.  xlii.  We  also 
waiting  in  true  silence  upon  Him,  and  eyeing  his  inward 
appearance  in  spirit,  and  the  work  of  his  Power  in  us, 
came  truly  to  feel  our  strength  renewed,  in  living  faith, 
true  love,  and  holy  zeal  for  his  Name  ;  insomuch  that 
the  Jjord  gradually  brought  us  to  experience  what  he 
said  of  old  by  his  holy  prophet:  "Keep  silence  before 
Me,  O  islands!  and  let  the  people  renew  their  strength; 
let  them  come  near,  then  let  them  speak ;  let  us  conr.e 
near  together  to  judgment."  ha.  xli.  1. 

O !  thus  keeping  silence  before  the  Lord,  and  thus 
drawing  near  to  Him  in  a  true  silent  frame  of  spirit,  to 
liear  first  what  the  Lord  speaks  to  us,  before  we  speak 
to  others,  whether  it  be  of  judgment  or  mercy,  is  tiie 
way  for  renewing  our  strength,  and  to  be  his  ministers 
to  speak  to  others  only  what  He  first  speaks  to  us :  Oh  ! 
that  the  people  truly  minded  this:  Oh  !  that  they  would 
seriously  consider  hereof,  then  would  they  not  run  after, 
or  follow  sucli  of  their  ministers  or  priests  as  run  and 

D  2 


42  MEMOIRS  OP 

God  never  sent  them;  who  say:  "Thus  saith  the 
Lord,"  when  God  hath  not  spoken  to  them  ;  and  "who 
shall  not  profit  the  people  at  all."  Jtr.  xxiii. 

The  Lord  was  graciously  pleased  to  lead  me  through 
the  law,  judgment,  and  condemnation  against  sin  in  the 
flesh,  in  order  to  bring  me  to  the  more  glorious  minis- 
tration and  law  of  the  Spirit  of  Life  in  ( 'lirist  Jesus,  the 
Foundation  of  the  prophets,  and  to  experience  the  mys- 
tery of  John's  ministry  of  repentance,  the  washing  of 
regeneration,  the  axe  being  laid  to  the  root  of  the  tree, 
as  well  as  to  the  cutting  olfthe  superfluous  branches, 
that  a  thorough  work  of  regeneration  njii.;ht  be  wrought. 
These  things  were  spiritually,  and  by  degrees  experi- 
enced through  the  obedience  of  faith,  waiting  and  per- 
severing in  the  Grace,  Light  and  Truth  received  from 
Christ,  in  order  to  obtain  victory  over  sin  and  satan ; 
that  his  work  and  the  body  thereof,  might  be  destroyed 
root  and  branch. 

And  whatever  Divine  openings  the  i^ord  was  pleas- 
ed at  any  time  to  give  me  by  his  Holy  Spirit,  for  my 
encouragement,  by  the  increase  of  faith  and  hope,  I  saw 
1  must  still  be  mindful  of  his  inward  work,  of  grace,  sanc- 
tification,  and  holiness,  that  it  might  go  on  and  prosper, 
though  many  weaknesses  and  temptatioiis  attended,  his 
Grace  was  sufficient  for  me,  and  oftentimes  gave  me 
strength  and  victory  over  the  enemy  of  my  soul,  and 
frustrated  his  evil  designs ;  and  when  he  would  have 
come  in  like  a  flood,  with  manifold  temptations  and 
devices,  the  spiritof  the  Lord  lifted  up  a  standard  against 
him,  and  repelled  him ;  Glory  to  our  God,  and  to  the 
Lamb,  in  whom  is  our  salvation  and  strength  for  ever 
and  ever ;  whose  Kingdom  is  an  everlasting  Kingdom, 
and  his  dominion  from  generation  to  generation! 

As  our  blessed  Lord  Jesus  Christ  declared.  If  any 
man  will  do  My  will,  he  shall  know  of  (he  doctrine.  It 
was  in  the  day  of  his  power  as  the  i^ight  thereof  did 
appear,  that  a  willingness  was  wrought  in  my  heart  to 
do  his  will,  and  to  follow  Him  in  self-denial  and  taking 
up  the  daily  cross,  which  every  man  must  do,  that  will 


G.  WHITEnEAD.  43 

be  his  disciple :  by  whose  Light  and  teaching  I  came 
livingly  to  believe,  understand,  and  receive  those  doc- 
trines and  principles  essential  to  a  Christian  hfe  and 
salvation,  especially  these  following,  viz. 

1.  God's  free  love  in  his  dear  Son  Jesus  Christ,  and 
his  universal  Grace  in  him  :  and  that  Christ  died  for  all 
men,  who  were  dead  in  their  sins ;  that  He  gave  Him- 
self a  ransom  for  all,  for  a  testimony  in  due  time,  of  his 
free  love  to  mankind  ;  for  it  was  by  the  grace  of  God 
that  "  Christ  tasted  death  for  every  man  ;"  so  that  the 
free  Grace  and  love  of  God  to  mankind,  are  testified 
and  evident  both  in  Christ's  dying  for  all  men,  and  by 
his  being  the  "  I^ight  of  the  World  which  enlightens 
every  man  coming  into  the  world."  John  i.  4.  9. 

2.  The  necessity  of  men's  repenting,  and  truly  believ- 
ing the  Gospel,  and  of  being  so  converted  to  Christ,  as 
to  receive  Christ,  and  to  ex[)crience  a  living  and  stead- 
fast faith  in  Him,  in  his  Light,  Name,  and  Power,  in 
order  to  become  the  children  and  sons  of  God,  it  being 
by  his  Tower,  through  faith  therein,  that  men  become 
the  sons  of  God  ;  and  not  by  traditional  belief,  without 
spiritually  receiving  Christ  into  their  hearts,  to  know  his 
work  of  iaith  and  j)ower  in  them,  unto  conversion,  and 
a  real  change  of  their  hearts  and  minds,  by  the  washing 
of  regeneration,  which  issanctification,  the  one  baptism 
of  the  Spirit,  for  the  washing  us  from  our  sins,  and  re- 
storing us  to  newness  of  life  in  Christ  Jesus.  All  which 
every  true  believer  in  Christ,  our  Light  and  l^ife,  un- 
derstands, and  knows  the  necessity  of,  even  of  those 
things,  which  arc  agreeable  to  Holy  Scripture  testi- 
mony. 

I  always  had  a  love  to  the  Bible,  and  to  reading 
therein,  from  my  childhood,  yet  did  not  truly  understand, 
nor  experience  those  doctrines  essential  to  salvation, 
nor  the  new  Covenant  Dispensation,  until  my  mind  was 
turned  to  the  Light  of  Christ,  the  Living  Eternal  Word, 
the  entrance  whereof  givcth  light  and  understanding 
to  the  simple. 

Yet  1  do  confess,  it  was  some  advantage  to  me  to 


44  MEMOIRS    OP 

have  frequently  read  the  Holy  Scriptures  when  I  was 
ignorant,  and  did  not  understand  the  great  and  excel- 
lent things  or  matters  therein  testified  of;  for  when  the 
Lord  had  livingly  in  some  measure  opened  my  under- 
standing in  the  Holy  Scripture,  by  my  often  reading 
the  same  before,  having  the  better  remembrance  there- 
of, it  was  a  help  and  advantage  to  my  secret  medita- 
tions, when  a  lively  sense  and  comfort  of  the  Scrip- 
tures was  in  measure  given  me  by  the  Spirit. 

It  is  through  faith  which  is  in  Christ,  that  the  Holy 
Scriptures  are  said  to  make  the  man  of  God  wise  unto 
salvation,  and  are  profitable  to  him,  for  doctrine,  reproof, 
and  instruction  in  righteousness,  that  he  may  be  perfect 
and  thoroughly  furnished  to  every  good  word  and  work. 
Doubtless  Paul  esteemed  Timothy's  knowing  the  Holy 
Scriptures  from  a  child,  to  be  some  advantage  and 
help  to  him,  but  it  was  principally  through  faith,  which 
is  in  Christ  Jesus. 

These  things  considered,  I  would  not  have  Christian 
parents  remiss  in  educating,  and  causing  their  children 
to  read  the  Holy  Scriptures,  but  to  induce  them  both 
to  learn  and  frequently  to  read  therein. 

I  have  sometimes  observed  pretty  innocent  children 
in  reading  in  the  Bible  allected  with  the  good  things 
they  have  read,  from  a  secret  belief  of  them,  which 
hath  had  such  impression  on  their  memories  and  af- 
fections, llial  they  have  been  induced  to  a  more  serious 
consideration  thereof,  when  the  Lord  has  opened  their 
understandings  in  some  measure  by  the  Light  of  his 
Grace. 

By  what  1  have  here  declared  in  commendation  of 
Holy  Scripture,  1  would  not  be  understood  to  limit  the 
giftd  of  the  Spirit  of  God,  or  ministry  thereof,  or  an)'  of 
his  divine  graces,  from  the  illiterate,  the  unlearned,  or 
from  persons  of  low  and  mean  education,  or  calling,  as 
ploughmen,  herdsmen,  shepherds,  fishermen,  &c.  For 
God  hath  given  of  his  Good  Spirit,  and  excellent  spiri- 
tual gifts  even  unto  such,  and  hath  promised  to  pour 
out  of  his  spirit  upon  all  flesh;  and  that  sons  and  daugh- 


G.     WHITEHEAD.  45 

ters  should  prophesy.  Joel  ii.  28.  And  Moses  said : 
"  Would  God  that  all  the  Lord's  people  were  prophets, 
and  that  He  would  put  his  Spirit  upon  them."  Numb. 
xi.  29. 

Now  to  return  to  my  own  experience  and  spiritual 
progress ;  my  entrance  thereinto,   and  very  beginning 
in  the    Spirit,  and  believing  in  the  Light  of  our  Lord 
Jesus  Christ,  was  really  in  order  to  my  coming  into  the 
New  Covenant  and  Dispensation  thereof,  Christ  being 
given  both  for  a  Light  and  a  Covenant,  and  to  be  God's 
Salvation  unto  the  ends  of  the  earth.     This  New  Cov- 
enant, is  a  covenant  of  grace,  mercy,  and  peace  with 
God  in  his  dear  Son  Jesus  Christ.    It  is  that  reconcilia- 
tion, that  near  agreement  with  God  and  Christ,  which 
man  must  come  into  if  ever  he  enjoys  true  peace.     It 
is  in  this  Covenant  that  all  the  Lord's  people  know  Him, 
from  the  least  to   the  greatest,  and  are  all  taught  of 
God,  having  also  his  law  written  in  their  hearts,  and  put 
into  their  minds,  by  his  Holy  Spirit.     It  is  in  this  cove- 
nant that  the  Lord  blots  out  all  their  former  forsaken 
transgressions,  and  remembers  their  sins  and  iniquities 
no  more,  they  continuing  in  this  Everlasting  Covenant, 
and  in  his  goodness :  He  is  a  God  keeping  covenant  and 
mercy  for  ever,  to  them  that  fear  Him.     Oh  !  my  cry, 
my  soul's  breathing,  my  inward  spiritual  travail,  my 
watchings  and  prayings,  have  been — O  Lord  preserve 
and  keep  me  in  thy  holy  fear,  in  humility,  in  the  sense 
of  thy  Power;  that  I  may  never  depart  from  Thee,  nor 
from  thy  Covenant :  that  I  may   never  dishonour  thy 
Truth,  or  our  holy  profession.     And  hitherto  the  Lord 
has  helped  me  on  my  spiritual  journey  and  race  towards 
the  prize  :  1  ascribe  the  glory  and  praise  only  to  Him, 
"  who  giveth  power  to  the  faint,  and  to  them  that  have 
no  might  He  increaseth  strength  ;"  and   often  in   my 
weak  estate,  hath  manifested  strength  :  salvation  and 
strength  come  from  Him  who  is  the  God  of  our  salva- 
tion, that  his  redeemed  ones  may  sing  of  his  judgments 
and  mercies,  and  ascribe  salvation  to  our  God,  and  to 


46 


MEMOinS    OF 


the  Lamb  that  sits  with  Him  upon  the  throne,  in  glory 
and  majesty  forever. 

It  was  my  belief  after  my  convincemcnt,  that  all 
who  are  truly  called  into  Christ's  niinistry,  must  be 
sanctified,  divinely  inspired,  and  gifted  for  that  sacred 
work  and  service  of  our  Blessed  Lord  Jesus  Christ; 
they  must  be  careful  that  their  "  conversation  be  as 
becometh  the  Gospel ;"  they  must  live  good  lives,  as 
well  as  speak  good  words;  they  must  be  men  fearing 
God,  and  eschewing  evil ;  hating  covetousness,  and 
giving  noofTence  in  any  thing,  that  the  ministry  be  not 
blamed  ;  concering  which  the  Lord  hath  laid  upon  me 
a  godly  care,  which  still  remains  upon  me,  both  for 
myself  and  others,  that  our  ministry  be  not  blamed, 
and  that  no  offence  may  be  given  to  cause  blame  there- 
upon. What  signifies  it  for  any  to  have  a  name  to 
live,  when  they  are  dead  !  Or  for  loose,  vain,  proud, 
covetous,  unsanctificd  persons,  to  pretend  to  be  in  holy 
orders,  when  they  themselves  are  altogether  unholy, 
polluted,  and  sinful  ! 

What  that  kingly  prophet  David  earnestly  prayed  to 
God  for  in  Psalm  51,  doth  truly  set  forth  the  state  and 
condition  of  true  Gospel  ministers,  whose  ministry  is  at- 
tended with  his  Power  and  Presence,  and  thereby 
made  efTectual  for  the  conversion  of  sinners  unto  Him  : 
"  Wash  me  thoroughly  from  mine  iniquity,  and  cleanse 
me  from  my  sin."  "  Create  in  me  a  clean  heart,  O  God  ! 
and  renew  a  right  Sj)irit  within  me  :  cast  me  not  away 
from  thy  Presence,  and  take  not  thy  Holy  Spirit  from 
me.  Restore  unto  me  the  joy  of  tliy  salvation,  and  up* 
hold  me  with  thy  Free  Spirit.  Then  will  I  teach  trans- 
gressors thy  ways,  and  sinners  shall  be  converted  unto 
Thee."  These  things  have  I  sincerely  aimed  at,  and 
earnestly  desired  of  the  Lord  ;  and  in  Spirit  travailed 
for,  with  my  soul  and  whole  heart.  And  the  Lord 
in  measure  answered  me  therein,  before  I  travelled 
abroad  in  the  ministry  of  the  Gospel  of  Christ,  even  the 
Gospel  of  the  Grace  of  God:  which  He  gave  and  in- 
creased from  small   beginnings  in  me,  and  unto  nie. 


G.  WHITEHEAD.  47 

blessed  be  his  most  excellent  Name  for  ever :  For  He 
promised  unto  his  people,  saying,  "  I  will  give  you  pas- 
tors according  to  my  own  heart,  which  shall  feed  you 
with  knowledge  and  understanding."  Jer.  iii.  15.  They 
only  are  true  pastors  and  ministers  who  are  of  his 
giving  ;  and  many  such  Ho  has  given  and  will  give  in 
this  Gospel  day,  according  as  was  testified  by  a  preach- 
er both  of  Christ  as  come  in  the  flesh,  and  of  the  mys- 
tery of  Christ  as  come  in  the  Spirit :  "Even  the  Mys- 
tery which  hath  been  hid  from  ages  and  generations, 
but  now  is  made  manifest  to  his  saints,  to  whom  God 
would  make  known  what  is  the  riches  of  the  glory  of 
this  Mystery  among  the  Gentiles,  which  is  Christ  in 
YOU,  the  hope  of  glory ;  whom  we  preach,  warning 
every  man,  and  teaching  every  man  in  all  wisdom, 
that  we  may  present  every  man  perfect  in  Christ  Jesus  ; 
whereunto  1  also  labour,  striving  according  to  his  work- 
ing, which  worketh  in  me  mightily."  Col.  i.  26 — 29. 

According  to  a  belief  that  God  would  reveal  this 
Mystery  of  Christ  in  us,  I  was  made  tenderly  concern- 
ed to  wait  for  the  same,  that  I  might  witness  and  feel 
the  E*ower  and  coming  of  Christ  in  Spirit,  both  to  sanc- 
tify my  heart,  and  give  me  understanding  to  do  his 
will.  And  when  He  called  me  to  bear  testimony  for 
his  Name  and  Power,  and  also  for  his  inward  and  spi- 
ritual work  in  man,  I  was  engaged  to  wait  for  his  Pow- 
er and  Spirit  to  move  and  work  in  me  ;  and  that  1 
might  labour  in  his  service  according  to  his  working  in 
me  ;  and  not  otherwise  run,  strive,  or  strain  in  my  own 
will,  wisdom,  or  strength,  as  knowing  that  without 
Christ,  his  power  and  presence,  help  and  counsel,  I 
could,  of  myself,  do  nothing,  nor  any  one  else.  And 
when  my  ability  was  but  small,  and  I  in  much  weak- 
ness, fear,  and  trembling  many  times,  the  Lord  helped 
me,  and  increased  strength  and  ability  in  my  labours 
beyond  expectation  ;  this  care  still  resting  upon  me 
even  in  my  early  travels,  to  minister  only  according  to 
the  ability  given  me  of  my  Heavenly  Father,  and  to 
keep  within  compass  of  my  own  gift ;  and  when  the 


48  MEMOIRS  6lC. 

Spirit  of  the  Lord  opened  and  moved  but  in  a  few  words, 
I  must  not  exceed,  but  sit  down  in  silence  when  that 
ceased.  Many  times  in  waiting  upon  the  Lord,  and 
secretly  breathing  to  Him  in  silence,  the  Spring  of  Life 
would  arise,  and  open  counsel  afresh  to  my  own  and 
others'  refreshment  and  consolation  :  many  times  hath 
my  soul  been  brought  low,  and  the  Lord  hath  helped 
me,  and  renewed  my  strength  to  persevere  in  his  ser- 
vice ;  being  sensible  the  more  low  1  was  in  myself,  and 
the  more  in  fear  toward  God,  though  but  weak  and 
simple  of  myself,  the  more  He  would  manifest  his  Power, 
and  bless  my  endeavours  and  service.  Let  Him  have 
the  praise  of  all,  who  is  for  ever  worthy. 


(49) 


SECTION  III. 

His  travels  in  Yorkshire— Visits  Lincoln,  Cambridge,  Norwich, 
and  Wymondham. — Ranters. — Visits  otiier  places  in  Norfolk 
and  Suffolk— Returns  to  Norwich — Imprisoned  there — Procla- 
mation asserting  liberty  of  conscience — Further  visits  in  Norfolk 
and  Suffolk. 

After  many  blessed  and  comfortable  seasons,   and 
refreshment  from  the  Presence  of  our  Heavenly  Father, 
which  we  enjoyed  in  our  meetings  before  mentioned  in 
the  northern  parts ;  and  having,  cleared  my  conscience 
in  testimony  for  the  Truth,  both  in  word,  and  Christian 
conversation  toward  my  parents  and   relations,  being 
some  time  with  them  before  I  travelled  abroad  into  the 
south  parts  of  England,  a  weighty  concern  came  upon 
me,  to  leave  my   father's  house  and  county  of  West- 
moreland, and  to    travel   abroad  southward,    which  1 
acquainting  some  Friends  with,  my  dear  friend  Edward 
Edwards,  who  then  was  a  young  man  and  lived  at  Ger- 
vase  Benson's,  near  Coatley  Cragg,  above  Sedbergh, 
though  he  was  not  then  called  into  the  ministry,  gave 
up  to  travel  with  me,  and  to  keep  me  company  to  York, 
it  being  the  latter  endxjf  the  summer,  in  the  year  1654. 
Both  of  us  were  given  up  to  travel  on  foot,  and  went 
together  directly  to  York,  where  we  stayed  two  or 
three  nights,  and  were  at  Friends'  meeting  there  on  the 
First-day,  which  was  but  small ;  and  I  had  a  few  words 
given  me  livingly  to  declare  among  them. 

Thence  we  travelled  farther  southward  in  Yorkshire, 
and  met  with  our  beloved  friend  and  brother  in  Christ, 
George  Fox,  at  one  Captain  Bradford's,  where  we 
were  at  a  meeting  with  him  ;  and  afterward  we  tra- 
velled into  East  Holderness,  to  Joseph  Storr's,  where 
again  we  met  with  George  Fox  and  divers  other  friends, 
and  were  comforted  together,  and  travelled  a  little 
while  in  that  country  to  some  meetings  where  he  was, 

VOL.  I.  & 


50  MEMOIRS  OF 

who  then  had  the  public  service  wholly  upon  him  there, 
for  the  strengthening  and  settling  Friends  in  the  Light 
and  in  the  Truth. 

I  had  some  testimony  laid  upon  me  to  bear  at  two 
steeple-houses,  before  1  left  that  county,  but  met  with 
no  hard  usage,  except  haling  out ;  the  Lord  support- 
ing me  in  faith  and  hope  of  a  service  He  had  (or  me 
farther  south.  My  honest,  dear  friend,  Edward  Edwards 
and  I,  parted  in  lloldcrness  ;  and  Thomas  Ralison,  who 
travelled  with  George  Fox,  came  with  me  to  Hull, 
whence  we  went  that  night  over  the  river  Humber  into 
Lincolnshire  ;  we  had  a  rude,  abusive,  drunken  com- 
pany in  the  boat,  who,  though  they  threatened,  and 
otherwise  abused  us,  the  Lord  preserved  us  from  being 
harmed  by  them. 

George  Fox  and  Alexander  Parker  overtook  us  (be- 
ing on  foot)  irt  our  way  toward  Lincoln  ;  and  we  got 
to  a  place  that  nigiit  where  was  a  meeting  next  day, 
being  the  first  day  ;  and  a  burthen  came  upon  me,  to 
go  and  bear  testimony  for  the  Truth  at  two  steeple- 
houses,  one  in  the  forenoon,  and  the  other  in  the  after- 
noon. I  had  no  harm  nor  violence  at  either,  except 
pulling  or  pushing  out;  but  Thomas  Ralison  being  at 
that  in  the  afternoon,  was  abused  and  beaten,  and 
followed  into  the  field  by  a  parcel  of  young  fellows; 
and  I  was  sorry  that  he  was  so  evilly  treated.  Next 
day  he  and  and  I  parted,  and  I  took  leave  ofGerge  Fox 
and  friends  with  him,  and  travelled  on  toward  Lincoln, 
taking  a  meeting  by  the  way  ;  where  the  Lord  opened 
my  mouth  in  a  living  testimony.  After  this  1  went  to 
Lincoln  that  night,  being  but  a  few  miles  ;  and  there 
met  with  John  Whitehead,  who  had  been  exercised  in 
a  public  service  in  that  city,  and  met  with  some  accep- 
tance. I  staid  but  one  night  in  Lincoln,  being  pressed 
in  spirit  to  travel  forward  toward  Cambridge  and  Nor- 
wich, though  left  to  travel  alone  and  still  on  foot.  I  went 
to  Cambridge  from  Lincoln  in  less  than  three  days,  the 
days  being  then  short,  though  my  feet  were  galled  and 
blistered  even  before  I  came  out  of  Yorkshire  ;  yet  they 


G.    WHITEHEAD. 


51 


amended  before  I  got  to  Norwich,  and  I  was  preserved 
in  health  all  along;  which  I  thaMkrully  esteemed  as  a 
great  mercy  from  God,  being  then  not  eighteen  years 
of  age. 

At  Cambridge  I  was  received  kindly  by  Alderman 
Blakelirig  and  his  wife,  and  by  the  few  Friends  there. 
James  Parnel  met  me  before  1  went  thence,  and  we 
were  comforted,  and  among  those  Friends  when  we  met. 
After  two  or  three  days'  stay,  I  was  still  pressed  in 
spirit  for  Norwich.  Fiom  Cambridge  Thomas  Light- 
foot  travelled  with  me ;  and  we  got  to  about  three 
miles  from  Thetford  in  Norfolk  the  first  night,  being 
showery  weather  ;  but  it  was  something  ditlicult  to  get 
lodging  for  our  money  at  a  little  village  where  we  staid, 
they  were  so  shy  of  us ;  yet  being  at  a  house  where 
they  sold  beer,  we  prevailed  with  them  to  entertain 
us  that  night ;  but  the  room  wherein  we  lodged  was 
cold  and  mean,  and  the  windows  so  shattered,  that  the 
snow  came  in  upon  us.  The  next  day  we  travelled  to 
Wymondham,  where  one  Robert  Constable  and  his 
wife  kindly  received  us:  being  convinced  a  little  time 
before,  by  our  dear  friend  Richard  Ilubberthorn,  then 
prisoner  in  Norwich  Castle,  for  bearing  public  testi- 
mony to  the  truth  at  the  Steeple-house  at  Wymondham. 
where  those  called  Independents  met. 

We  went  to  Norwich  next  day,  and  I  visited  kich- 
ard  Hubberthorn  in  prison,  where  we  gladly  embraced 
each  other  in  dear  and  tender  love,  and  were  comfort- 
ed together  in  the  Lord  ;  there  being  then  a  few  Friends 
inthatcityconvinccdby  Ins  testimony  and  suilering.  The 
most  serviceable  Friend  then  in  that  city,  was  Thomas 
Symonds,  a  master-weaver,  who  received  travelling 
friends:  he  was  a  loving  honest  man,  and  came  to  re- 
ceive a  gift  in  the  ministry,  and  was  faithful  unto  death. 
He  lived  and  died  in  the  faith,  and  was  partaker  of  the 
promises  which  are  "  yea  and  amen  in  Christ  Jesus." 
He  was  exemplary  in  Truth,  and  serviceable  both  in 
the  city  of  Norwich  and  county  of  Norfolk. 

Though  I  expected  to  suffer  imprisonment  in  that 


52  MEMOIRS  OF 

city ;  yet  the  Lord  so  ordered  I  had  liberty  some  weeks 
to  have  divers  meetings  at  Thomas  Symond's  house  and 
at  Wymondham,  at  one  Robert  Harvey's,  a  glover,  who 
was  an  honest,  innocent  man,  that  received  the  Truth 
in  the  Love  of  it.  To  a  meeting  at  his  house,  came 
captain  John  Lawrence,  &c.  who  being  then  tenderly 
affected  with  Truth,  was  desirous  I  should  have  a 
meeting  at  his  house  at  Wramplingham,  which  I  was 
glad  of. 

To  that  meeting  came  three  priests,  viz.   Jonathan 
Clapham,  priest  of  the  town,  and  other  two  on  purpose 
to  oppose.     They  staid  in   the  parlour  until  the  meet- 
ing was  settled,  and  peeped  out  to  see  me;  and  because 
of  my  youth,  I  was  contemptible  in  their  eyes,   to  dis- 
course with ;  and   I  understood   they  slighted    me  the 
more    because  thereof.     However  Jonathan  Clapham, 
as  one  ambitious  and  more  regarding  worldly  honour, 
than  seeking  that  honour  which  is  from  above,  under- 
took to  oppose  and  document  me,  about  our  not  respect- 
ing persons  by  bowing,  &c.  pleading  what  he  could  for 
it ;  and  the  Lord  gave  me  suitable  and  scriptural  replies, 
which  in  the  spirit  of  meekness  I  returned  upon  him 
and  his  party,  and  laid  open  some  of  their  unscriptural 
and  unwarrantable   practices ;  and  feeling  the  Lord's 
powef  and  counsel  with  me,  1  had  dominion  given  me 
to  vindicate  the  Truth,  to  the  confounding  of  the  oppo- 
sers.     After  some  short  time,  the  said  Jonathan  Clap- 
ham, and  another  priest  with  him,  (one  Purt)  withdrew, 
but  the  third  priest  staid  until  the  meeting  was  over: 
for  after  the  contest  with   the  other  two  priests  was 
ended,  I  had  a  very  good   and  blessed  opportunity  to 
declare  the  Truth,  and  open  divers  matters  of  weight, 
as  the  Lord  was  pleased  to  open   to  me,   and    enlarge 
my  Spirit  to  demonstrate  ;  insomuch  that  at   the  same 
meeting,  most  of  John   J^awrence's  family,  with  divers 
others,  were  convinced  and  persuaded  of  the  way  of 
Truth.     And  the  Lord  gave  me  great  comfort  and  en- 
couragement by  his  Divine  assistance  in  his  work  and 
service  that  day;  and  Friends  then  present,  were  great- 


G.  WHITEHEAD.  53 

ly  satisfied  therein.  And  those  same  priests'  contempt 
of  me  his  poor  servant,  and  weak  instrument,  turned 
to  the  contempt  and  disgrace  of  themselves  ;  so  that  I 
had  then  and  often,  cause  to  ascribe  the  "Glory  and 
praise  to  the  Lord  our  God,"  and  to  declare  in  praise 
to  Him :  "  Out  of  the  mouths  of  babes  and  sucklings 
hast  thou  ordained  strength,  because  of  thine  enemies  ; 
that  thou  mightest  still  the  enemy  and  the  avenger." 
Psal.  vui.  2. 

The  said  John  Lawrence  received  the  Truth,  and 
the  ].,ord's  Messengers,  in  great  love  and  tenderness; 
and  gave  up  freely  in  obedience  thereunto.  When  he 
knew  a  beginning  in  the  Spirit,  he  turned  not  back  ; 
but  did  persevere,  and  bore  a  faithful  testimony  in  suf- 
fering for  the  Truth,  both  in  his  person  and  goods.  His 
and  his  family's  turning  to  Truth  and  Friends,  was  a 
means  to  induce  and  draw  many  after  them,  to  Christ's 
Light  and  free  Ministry,  that  they  might  know  Him 
to  be  their  Minister,  their  High  Priest,  their  Shepherd, 
and  the  Bishop  of  their  Souls. 

Near  that  time,  in  the  ninth  and  tenth  months,  16.54, 
1  had  divers  meetings  in  and  near  Wymondham,  and 
also  in  Norwich  ;  and  the  Lord  was  with  me,  and 
helped  me  to  publish  his  Name  and  Truth ;  to  preach 
the  everlasting  Gospel,  and  to  turn  manv  fiom  darkness 
to  the  Light,  and  from  the  power  of  sin  andsatan  unto 
God  and  his  power;  that  people  might  not  continue  in 
empty  forms  and  shadows,  but  come  to  the  life  and 
substance  of  true  religion,  and  tothe  power  of  godliness, 
and  to  know  Christ  to  be  their  Teacher  and  Leader, 
whose  voice  his  sheep  hear;  and  they  will  not  follow 
the  voice  of  a  stranger. 

And  many  in  those  parts  were  convinced  of  the  truth 
of  these  things,  and  turned  to  the  Light  of  Christ  in 
them.  Let  the  work  of  the  Lord  praise  Him  which 
began  in  those  days,  and  since  has  prospered  in  that 
country,  both  in  the  offspring  of  many  who  then  at  first 
received  the  love  of  the  Truth,  and  in  many  others, 
whom  the  Lord  hath  blessed  in  their  obedience,  and 

E  2 


54  MEMOIRS    OF 

willingness  to  serve  Him  ;  being  come  unto  the  dawn- 
ing of  the  day  of  Christ's  Power,  wherein  his  people  are 
a  willing  people.     Ps.  ex.  3. 

The  first  opposition  I  met  with  in  the  city  of  Norwich, 
was  at  a  meeting  at  the  said  Thomas  Symond's  house, 
by  one  Scarf,  an  Antinomian  preacher,  who  pleaded 
for  sin  to  continue  term  of  life,  even  in  the  best  of  saints, 
from  Paul's  warfare,  &c.  Rom.  vii.  And  yet  though 
they  still  continue  sinners  in  themselves,  they  are  not 
under  the  Law,  but  under  Grace,  and  reckoned  righ- 
teous in  Christ.  Much  such  sin-pleasing  doctrine  we 
met  with  from  professors  in  those  days,  whom  in  the 
Name  of  the  Lord  we  withstood,  as  I  did  the  said  Anti- 
nomian; and  by  the  Lord's  help,  stood  over  Him  and 
his  perverse  gainsayings,  to  his  confusion  ;  for  I  saw 
those  Antinomians  very  dark  and  corrupt  in  doctrine, 
contrary  to  Christ's  work,  which  is  to  destroy  sin,  and 
to  save  his  people  from  sin  and  transgression. 

At  that  meeting,  there  were  some  of  those  persons 
deemed  Ranters,*  allowing  corrupt  liberty.  One  of  the 
chief  of  them  seemed  to  own  what  I  said  against  the 
Antinomian  ;  1  had  then  given  me  a  sense  that  he  was 
of  a  corrupt  spirit,  and  told  him,  I  denied  his  spirit  also, 
as  I  did  the  opposers,  for  I  felt  a  zeal  from  the  Lord 
against  them  both ;  and  the  Lord's  power  over  all,  in 
whose  service  He  did  strengthen  and  encourage  me 
from  one  meeting  to  another,  insomuch  that  1  was  sure 
the  Lord  stood  by  me,  and  strengthened  my  spirit  in  his 
work  and  service  ;  and  the  more  1  travelled  and  labour- 
ed therein,  the  more  my  strength  in  Him  increased  ; 
for  which  my  soul  did  often  praise  his  glorious  Name, 
and  sing  praises  to  him,  even  in  solitary  places. 

A  little  time  after  I  had  another  meeting  at  the  said 
Thomas  Symond's  house,  on  a  first  day  of  the  week ; 
and  there  came  a  company  of  those  persons  who  were 
gotten  into  the  spirit  of  llanterism;  and  the  same  per- 

*  An  unsettled  class  of  people  :  many  of  them,  as  here  stated,  of 
corrupt  principles  ;  and  others  wild  in  their  ideas. 


C.    WHITEHEAD.  55 

son  who  seemed  to  take  my  part  before  against  the 
Antinomian  opposer,  was  one  of  the  company.  In  that 
same  meeting,  the  Power  and  dread  of  the  Lord  God, 
fell  so  weightily  upon  me  to  bear  testimony  against  sin 
and  wickedness,  root  and  branch — against  the  lust  of 
the  flesh,  the  lust  of  the  eye,  and  the  pride  of  life — the 
love  of  the  world,  &c.  that  the  powerful  word  of  the 
Lord  pierced  through  the  meeting,  and  so  wonderfully 
struck  down  the  spirits  of  those  ranters,  and  other  loose 
spirits,  that  they  came  to  me  that  evening  like  men 
greatly  wounded,  and  struck  down  in  their  spirits, 
from  their  high  floating  notions  of  Ranterism ;  inso- 
much that  they  questioned  their  salvation,  which  be- 
fore they  thought  themselves  secure  of,  as  if  their  moun- 
tain could  never  be  removed ;  yet  tlien  they  were  un- 
der doubts  and  fears,  and  such  like  questioning,  as, 
"  Men  and  brethren,  what  shall  we  do  to  be  saved  ?" 

In  compassion  to  their  poor  souls,  I  earnestly  exhort- 
ed them  to  bear  the  judgment  of  the  Lord  and  his  in- 
dignation, because  tliey  had  greatly  sinned  against 
Him ;  that  they  might  find  mercy  from  Ilim,  through 
true  humiliation  and  repentance ;  with  such  necessary 
counsel  and  warning,  as  the  Lord  by  his  Light  then 
showed  me  was  most  suitable  to  their  conditions  ;  for  1 
never  was  acquainted  with  that  sort  of  people  before 
those  in  Norwich  ;  whereupon  the  most  of  them  were 
convinced  of  the  Truth,  and  divers  of  them  came  to  be 
reformed  in  their  lives  and  conversation  ;  though  some 
turned  back  into  their  corrupt,  carnal  liberty,  through 
want  of  watchfulness,  and  not  keeping  in  the  fear  of 
God. 

We  have  seen  in  our  day,  that  where  the  deadly 
wound  in  the  beast,  or  beastly  nature,  hath  been  heal- 
ed, in  those  who  have  not  gone  forward  through  morti- 
fication, nor  patiently  waited  to  see  judgment  brought 
forth  into  victory,  they  have  miscarried,  and  turned 
from  the  Grace  of  God  into  lasciviousness,  or  to  embrace 
the  world,  and  thereby  to  sell  the  Truth,  and  them- 
selves too,  even  their  poor  souls,  for  their  own  iniqui- 


56 


MEMOIRS    OP 


ties  :  "  Behold  for  your  iniquities  have  you  sold  your- 
selves." Isa.  I.  1. 

Some  time  after  the  aforementioned  meeting  at  John 
Lawrence's,  I  went  to  visit  him  and  his  family,  and 
relations  that  were  with  them  ;  his  wife  and  her  sister- 
in-law,  EHzabeth  Bedwell,  and  others  of  the  family  be- 
ing convinced,  and  truly  loving  to  Friends,  as  were  their 
children  likewise;  being  also  glad  of  the  good  service 
1  had  at  their  house,  where  the  three  priests  were  so 
greatly  disappointed  of  their  designed  conquest,  and  so 
much  confounded.  Elizabeth  Bedwell  told  me,  that 
the  priest's  wife  of  the  town  and  she  having  had  dis- 
course before  the  said  meeting,  and  expecting  some 
dispute  to  be  there  between  the  priests  and  the  Quaker, 
the  priest's  wife  asked  her,  saying,  Mrs.  Bedwell,  which 
side  will  you  be  for?  Elizabeth  pleasantly  answered 
her,  I'll  be  for  the  strongest  side.  After  the  meeting 
was  over,  the  priest's  wife  told  Elizabeth^  now  Mrs. 
Bedwell,  1  know  you'll  be  of  the  Quaker's  side,  for  you 
said  you  would  be  for  the  strongest. 

The  said  Elizabeth  Bedwell  continued  a  faithful, 
innocent,  loving  Friend  in  the  Truth,  and  a  plain,  low- 
ly example  of  humility  until  death;  and  her  husband 
a  loving  man,  and  friend  to  Truth  and  Friends;  espe- 
cially in  his  latter  years. 

It  is  worthy  to  he  remembered,  that  both  John  Law- 
rence's mother,  and  his  wife's  also,  who  were  very  an- 
cient women,  came  to  be  convinced,  and  received  the 
Truth  in  those  times  and  continued  Friends  to  the  last. 

Also  Joseph  Lawrence,  who  was  brother  to  John 
Lawrence,  and  his  wife,  received  the  truth  and  Friends 
in  true  love  and  became  very  serviceable,  Joseph  suf- 
fered considerably  by  imprisonment.  His  wife  lived 
not  many  years  after  she  received  the  Truth ;  but  in 
her  day  was  a  very  virtuous,  sober,  ingenuous,  and  lov- 
ing Friend  ;  and  by  her  sober  life  and  good  example, 
left  a  sweet  savour  behind  her. 

Our  ancient  and  faithful  friend,  William  Barber,  of 
Gissing,  in  the  same  county  of  Norfolk,  and  his  wife 


G.    WnlTEAEAD. 


57 


also,  did  early  receive  the  Truth  and  Friends  in  great 
love  and  tenderness,  in  1654.  I  first  met  him,  as  1 
remember,  at  Diss  in  Norfolk,  and  declared  the  Truth 
to  him  and  some  others  present,  and  opened  something 
of  the  mystery  of  Christ,  and  of  the  ministry  and  work 
of  his  spirit  within;  and  also  of  the  enemy's  contra- 
ry work  in  man,  as  the  Lord  was  pleased  to  open 
and  enable  me.  William  was  very  tenderly  ailected, 
and  broken  into  tears ;  and  his  spirit  bowed  and  hum- 
bled, though  he  had  been  a  great  man  and  captain  in 
the  army  :  Truth  was  near  in  him,  and  I  felt  him  near 
it ;  and  mv  heart  was  open  and  tender  toward  him,  in 
the  Love  of  Christ. 

It  was  some  time  longer  before  1  saw  his  wife;  she 
was  an  honest,  sober  woman,  received  the  Truth  and 
Frionds  in  great  love  and  tenderness ;  and  continued  a 
faithful,  innocent,  and  loving  Friend  until  her  dying  day. 
I  observed  the  Lord  endued  her  with  much  patience, 
considering  the  great  and  long  suffering  her  husband 
endured  by  imprisonment  in  Norwich  castle,  for  the 
space  of  twenty  years,  or  above  ;  chiefly  for  non-pay- 
ment of  tithes  to  an  old  priest  of  the  parish,  who  appear- 
ed implacably  malicious  in  his  prosecution,  or  rather 
persecution  and  revenge.  The  said  William  Barber 
bore  a  faithful  testimony  through  patience  and  long 
suffering  ;  I  know  of  none  who  suffered  like  him  in  those 
parts,  though  many  Friends  thereabouts  have  suffered 
deeply  on  the  same  account;  and  the  Lord  supported 
them  therein. 

After  I  had  laboured  and  travelled  some  weeks  in 
that  county,  in  the  work  of  the  Lord,  in  the  winter, 
1654,  a  weighty  concern  came  upon  me  to  travel  into 
Suffolk.  As  we  went,  Robert  Constable,  the  Friend 
who  went  with  me,  procured  an  evening  meeting  at  a 
town  called  Bottesdale,  where  the  people  were  pretty 
civil  and  quiet.  The  day  after,  we  went  to  Mendles- 
ham,  to  Robert  Duncan's,  of  whom  I  had  a  good  ac- 
count before,  and  of  his  being  desirous  of  some  Friends 
to  visit  them  in  those  parts  ;  for  a  meeting  of  an  honest 


58 


MEMOIRS  OP 


minded  people  had  been  some  time  kept  at  his  house, 
dissenting  from  the  parish  priests  and  their  worship; 
and  yet  tlicy  had  several  preachers,  or  such  as  esteem- 
ed themselves  spiritually  gifted,  in  some  degree,  to 
preach  and  pray  among  them. 

When  I  came  to  his  house,  he  kindly  received  me  ; 
next  day  being  the  First-day  of  the  week,  was  their 
meeting  at  his  house,  to  which  I  went  and  sat  in  silence 
for  some  space,  waiting  upon  the  Lord  in  his  holy  fear, 
to  see  and  feel  what  he  would  please,  by  his  power,  to 
open  unto  me  to  declare  to  the  people  there  met;  be- 
ing in  expectation  to  hear  what  should  be  delivered 
unto  them.  Some  of  their  teachers  seemed  a  little 
uneasy  with  our  being  silent  so  long  as  we  then  were  ; 
whereupon  Robert  Duncan  spake  a  few  words  to  this 
purpose:  that  peradventure  they  had  been  too  much 
in  words,  or  depending  on  men's  teaching  ;  and  there- 
fore God  now  miffht  see  it  meet  to  brintr  them  into  si- 
lence,  that  they  might  come  more  to  depend  upon 
Him  for  teaching. 

Some  of  their  preachers  were  for  putting  forward 
one  or  other  of  them  to  prayer;  I  let  them  alone,  and 
patiently  bore  them  in  their  voluntary  devotion.  After 
a  little  respite,  the  Lord  opened  and  made  way  for  me 
to  preach  the  Truth  unto  them,  to  turn  their  minds  to 
the  True  Light,  that  they  might  know  the  Immortal 
Seed,  and  birth  which  is  from  above,  unto  which  God's 
Everlasting  Love  is;  and  that  seed  and  birth  which  He 
bates,  to  be  subdued,  crucified,  and  slain.  It  was  to 
the  inward  work  of  his  Spirit,  and  knowledge  of  Christ 
in  Spirit,  and  that  they  might  know  God's  teaching  by 
his  Spirit,  that  1  truly  desired  they  might  all  come. 

I  was  among  them  in  much  humility,  meekness,  and 
poverty  of  spirit,  wherein  the  Lord  was  with  me,  and 
by  his  invisible  power  lielped  me,  for  his  own  Name's 
sake,  yea,  and  his  seed's  sake  ;  which  1  felt  among  that 
people  ;  for  the  Lord  had  a  tender  seed  and  people 
among  them  ;  towards  whom  my  soul  was  truly  atlect- 
ed,  in  the  love  and  bowels  of  Christ  Jesus  my  Lord  and 


G.  WIHTEHEAD.  59 

Leader,  who  went  before  me  in  his  (lospel  work  and 
service  :  to  Ilinn  be  the  glory  thereof  for  ever ! 

The  said  meeting  was  kept  and  ended  in  much  so- 
briety and  seriousness  ;  and  no  opposition  made  therein 
to  what  the  Lord  gave  Jne  to  declare  among  Ihcm  ;  the 
people  being  for  the  most  part  well  inchned,  and  con- 
vinced of  the  Truth  then  testified  unto.  And  the  meet- 
ing remained,  and  was  held  in  that  place,  they  being 
so  well  satisfied  with  the  Truth  and  Dispensation  of 
the  Spirit,  as  professed  and  owned  among  the  people 
called  (Quakers,  that  the  Friends  thereof  were  content  to 
wait  upon  the  Lord  togethei"  in  silence,  to  know  and  re- 
ceive Life,  Power,  and  Teaching  also  from  Him.  And 
the  Lord  for  many  years  prospered  them,  although  when 
that  meeting  was  reduced  to  know'  a  state  of  silence, 
some  of  their  former  preachers  left  it  for  a  time,  yetafter- 
wards  returned  ;  especially  one  that  was  most  noted, 
namely  Edward  Plumpstead,  senior,  who  not  only  came 
to  be  a  loving  Friend  in  our  Society,  as  his  wife  and 
family  were,  but  also  a  preacher  of  the  Truth  among 
Friends,  some  years  before  he  died. 

1  was  again  concerned  in  spirit  to  return  to  Norwich, 
and  that  neighbourhood,  where  1  had  some  effectual 
service  for  the  blessed  Truth,  among  the  Friends  con- 
vinced thereof,  and  other  well  inclined  people;  also  to 
visit  my  beloved  friend  and  brother  Richard  Hubber- 
thorn,  as  often  as  1  could,  he  being  still  detained  prison- 
er in  Norwich  castle,  where  he  had  but  a  poor  hole  to 
lodge  in,  upon  the  end  of  a  cross  wall ;  which  being  a 
little  old  stone  arched  hole  or  room,  it  broke,  and  fell 
down  not  many  years  after.  It  was  the  Lord's  mercy  it 
fell  not  while  he  was  in  it. 

A  few  days  after,  near  the  end  of  the  tenth  month, 
1654,  there  was  a  lecture  at  that  called  Peter's  Church 
in  Norwich,  and  1  believed  the  Lord  required  me  to  go 
thither,  to  bear  such  testimony  as  He  would  please  to 
give  me,  being  endued  with  a  holy  zeal  against  iniquity, 
and  the  pride  and  covetousness  of  the  high  priests  in 
those  days  ;  as  well  as  with  compassion  to  the  ignorance 
and  blindness  of  the  people  misled  by  them. 


6Q  MEMOIRS    OF 

When  the  priest  had  ended  his  sermon,  1  was  suffer- 
ed to  say  but  a  few  words  against  iniquity,  &c.  when 
some  of  the  priest's  hearers   came  violently    upon  me 
to  hale  me  out,  some  pulling   by    one  arm,  and  ^some 
by  the  other,  contrary  ways ;  some  strivmg  to  ha.e  me 
out  at  the  north  door,  and  some  out  at  the  south  porch, 
by  which  violence  I  then  got  some  hurt,  and  a  pam  in 
one  side  of  my  breast,  being  overstrained  by  their  pull- 
ing and  haling  me;  but  it  pleased  the  Lord  in  a  few 
days  to  remove    the  hurt  and  pain  I  got  by    that  hard 
usaee      From  the  steeple  house  I  was  haled  to  their 
guild-hall,  before  Thomas  Toft,  mayor,  who  after  ex 
Imination  about  water  baptism,  and  some  other  things, 
committed  me  to  the  city  gaol.  •    .  ^^  Kp 

The  mayor  seemed  to  seek  occasion  against  me  oe- 
cau.c  he  had  none,  by  his  q^^'^^ioning  me  about  wate^ 
baptism,  asking  mc,  if  the  baptism  of  John  was  f  om 
heaven,  or  of  men  (  To  which  I  answered  him,  if  they 
who  now  plead  for  water  baptisnrj,  could  P-'O^^' ^^  !^  ^'^^^ 
it  appear  thev  have  commission  from  heaven  to  baptize, 
asTIn  had,^l  would  own  it.  But  I  fPPOse^^^l^J^ 
not  intend  so,  but  was  for  sprinkhng  uifants.  ^owe^e^ 
though  he  could  get  no  advantage  agamst  me,  he  sa  ouia 

send  me  to  prison.  ,      , 

In  the  said  prison  1   and  some  others  were  but  hard- 
ly treated  by  the  keeper,  one  Hunt,  who  demanded  for 
one  bed  for  three  of  us,  four-pence  a  nij^ht  of  each  ;  we 
thou-ht  it  was  hard  measure  to  demand  twelve-pence 
a  ni^'ht  of  prisoners  for  one  mean  bed,  for  three  men  to 
be  crowded  together  in,  and  that  in  a  cold  room,  where 
another  prisoner   lodged  in  a  bed  to  himself ;  so    that 
we  not  finding  freedom  to  gratify  the  gaoler  in  his  op- 
pression and    covetousness,   and    afraid   to  bring    any 
charge  upon  any  of  our  Friends,  to  procure  us  better 
accommodation  in  prison,  thought  ourselves  necessitat- 
ed to  lodge  upon  the  bare  boards  of  the  floor  in  our 
wearing  clothes,  and  little  covering  besides  ;  and  thus 
we  lodged  for  eight  weeks  together  m  the  cold  wmter, 
whereby,  though  we  endured    much  cold,  yet   were 


G.  WniTEIIEAD.  61 

through  the  Lord's  mercy  generally  preserved  in  health. 
Such  kind  of  hardship  1  might  think  the  greater,  hav- 
ing been  tenderly  brought  up  by  my  parents,  and  being 
only  about  eighteen  years  old,  when  thus  imprisoned  in 
1654.  Whilst  we  were  prisoners,  our  dear  friend, 
Thomas  Symonds  aforesaid,  was  sent  to  prison  to  us, 
only  for  asking  a  priest  a  question  in  the  steeple-house 
after  sermon. 

At  the  next  sessions  for  the  city,  James  Lancaster 
and  I  were  had  into  court,  before  one  Charles  George 
Cock,  then  judge  ;  and  the  great  otFence  he  took  against 
us,  was  our  not  putting  off  our  hats  in  court,  which  we 
could  not  for  conscience  sake  submit  to,  nor  to  do  such 
homage  to  mortal  man.  This  he  seemed  to  resent,  as 
a  contempt  to  the  court  and  authority,  pleading  for  re- 
spect to  superiors,  as  the  duty  of  servants  to  masters. 
I  signitied  that  servants  ought  to  perform  their  duties, 
and  to  serve  their  own  masters,  not  with  eye  service  as 
men  pleasers,  but  in  singleness  of  heart ;  whereas  put- 
ting off  the  haf,  and  bowing  to  men,  and  thereby  re- 
specting their  persons,  is  but  an  eye  service,  and  men- 
pleasing,  and  no  real  service  or  duty  to  superiors  or 
government ;  neither  do  we  know  any  \r\v  broken  by 
our  wearing  our  hats,  any  more  than  by  wearing  the 
rest  of  our  garments ;  nor  do  we  thereby  intend  any 
contempt  against  authority.  After  a  few  words  of  this 
import,  1  bore  the  judge's  threatening  and  insulting  pa- 
tiently, and  stood  still  in  silence. 

John  Bolton  of  London,  being  behind  me  in  court, 
suddenly  plucked  otF  my  hat,  with  the  other  Friend's, 
supposing  thereby  to  pacify  the  judge,  and  prevent  our 
farther  suffering ;  he  with  another  friend  or  two  being 
come  from  London  to  visit  us  :  howbeit  we  were  re- 
manded back  to  prison,  our  cold  place  of  confinement. 
Suddenly  after,  our  Friend  John  Bolton,  was  sorely 
troubled  in  his  conscience  for  plucking  off  our  hats  ; 
and  could  not  rest  quiet  in  himself,  until  he  returned 
into  court  again,  and  made  open  profession  against  him- 
self, condemning  what  he  had  done  in  taking  off  our 

VOL.  I.  r 


(i'-i  MEMOIRS    OF 

hats.  Upon  which,  as  it  was  related  to  me,  the  judge 
signified,  he  thought  what  John  had  done,  would  not 
hold  with  the  Quaker's  principle.  John  had  not  been 
long  a  professed  Quaker  ;  yet  he  continued  zealous  for 
Truth  unto  his  end. 

It  may  be  observed,  that  the  judge  of  the  said  court 
of  sessions  in  Norwich,  was  tenderly  cautioned  before- 
hand by  letter  from  us  who  were  prisoners,  against  that 
very  course  which  he  took  against  us  in  sessions.  How- 
ever I  was  discharged  by  the  judge  ;  yet  for  some  time 
after,  detained  in  prison  l)y  iJunt  the  gaoler,  pretend- 
ing he  had  laid  actions  upon  us  for  what  he  claimed  as 
a  debt  owing  for  lodging ;  upon  which  we  were  con- 
tinued in  prison,  under  the  same  hardships  in  the  cold 
winter,  in  all  eight  weeks  or  above,  until  the  said  gaol- 
er died.  And  then  we  were  actually  freed  out  of  pri- 
son, so  that  the  Lord  delivered  us  by  removing  our  un- 
merciful oppressor. 

About  this  time  a  proclamation  was  issued  by  the 
commonwealth  in  which  many  just  principles  were  as- 
serted in  regard  to  liberty  of  conscience. 

It  proclaimed  however  no  new  favour  to  the  poor 
Quakers,  who,  in  company  with  the  Ranters  whose 
principles  and  practices  they  always  disavowed,  were 
deemed  unworthy  of  additional  liberty,  as  acting  in  a 
manner  opposed  to  the  freedom  and  liberty  of  others. 
This  charge  no  doubt  had  reference  to  the  very  active 
spirit  which  Friends  displayed  in  the  propagation  of 
what  they  deemed  gospel  truth,  in  which  cause  they 
were  frequently  led  to  make  public  declarations  in 
streets,  market  places,  and  fairs,  and  also  at  the  usual 
places  of  worship,  when  the  regular  services  were  gone 
through. 

Soon  after  George  Whitehead's  commitment  to  Nor- 
wich prison,  an  answer  to  the  proclamation  was  issued, 
signed  by  him  and  two  of  his  fellow  prisoners,  from 
which  the  following  extracts  are  made,  and  with  which 
we  resume  the  abstract  of  his  own  account. 


G.  WniTKHEAD.  63 

The  proclamation  was  against  such  as  openly  and 
avowedly,  by  rude  and  unchristian  practices,  disturb 
both  public  and  private  Christian  meetings  in  their  re- 
ligious exercises  in  the  worship  of  God,  whereby  the 
liberty  of  the  gospel,  the  profession  of  religion,  and  the 
name  of  God  is  much  dishonoured  and  abused.  And 
many  informations  being  given  forth  of  such  practices, 
by  those  under  the  names  of  Quakers  and  Ranters, 
and  such  practices  are  disliked  in  all,  and  proclaimed 
against,  which  be  contrary  to  the  just  liberty  and  free- 
dom which  the  people  of  this  commonwealth  is  to  be 
protected  in,  &c. 

jins.  The  Power  which  is  received,  immediately 
from  God,  brings  into  the  true  liberty  and  freedom  as 
pertaining  to  conscience;  and  the  pure  law  of  God 
which  came  from  the  same  Power,  takes  hold  upon 
that  which  oppresseth  the  good  seed,  and  conscience 
also. 

And  though  liberty  of  conscience,  and  liberty  of  god- 
liness have  been  long  pretended  and  promised,  yet  the 
same  is  not  yet  performed,  nor  fulfilled  unto  those  who 
have  been  free  to  lay  down  their  lives,  for  this  liberty 
of  conscience  so  promised  and  professed.  Now  when 
the  Lord  hath  enlightened  us  by  his  True  Light,  and 
brought  us  to  walk  with  a  pure  conscience  toward  God 
and  man,  we  find  more  tyranny,  cruelty,  and  plotting 
mischief  against  us,  than  ever  those  accounted  enemies 
of  the  Commonwealth  invented  to  take  away  our  lives  ; 
though  no  man  can  lay  any  evil  to  our  charge  done 
or  acted,  or  law  broken  by  us. 

But  for  declaring  the  Truth  freely,  as  it  is  made 
manifest  in  us  from  the  Lord,  against  all  deceit  and 
unrighteousness  of  men,  we  are  shut  up  and  kept  close 
in  holes  and  prisons,  among  thieves  and  murderers. 
This  is  the  reward  and  liberty  we  receive  from  the 
world,  for  declaring  unto  them  the  eternal  Truth  of 
God,  who  hath  called  us,  whom  we  cannot  deny  for  the 
world's  advantage.  Mat.  v.  IL  12. 

For  witnessing  forth  in  life  and  power  that  which 


64  1IEMOIR3    OF 

protection  is  promised  to,  many  now  sufror  in  England, 
and  have  not  their  just  liberty  in  the  exercise  of  godli- 
ness, though  not  found  guilty  of  any  of  those  unchristian 
practices  proclaimed  against. 

The  people  called  Quakers,  do  not  impose  upon  the 
consciences  of  their  brethren,  or  any  others,  any  thing 
which  may  embondagc  their  just  liberty  or  freedom  in 
the  things  of  God,  but  do  desire  their  liberty,  that  all 
bondages  and  ties  may  be'taken  otFthe  consciences  of 
all  people  in  matters  of  the  worship  of  God ;  and  for 
the  purchasing  of  this  liberty,  do  we  suffer  bonds  and 
imprisonments,  beatings,  stonings,  stocking,  and  other 
cruel  usage,  from  those  who  profess  themselves  Chris- 
tians, magistrates,  and  rulers  in  this  Commonwealth. 

And  as  touching  the  many  informations  said  to  be 
given  forth  of  such  practices  by  those  under  the  names 
of  Quakers  and  Ranters ;  (i.  e.  of  rude  and  unchristian 
practices  which  are  disliked;) 

We  answer — We  do  utterly  deny  the  principles  and 
practices  of  Ranters ;  who,  from  the  Light  of  Christ, 
which  is  pure  in  the  conscience,  are  turned  into  the 
liberty  of  the  flesh,  and  into  all  uncleanness,  and  to 
practice  those  things  to  which  the  plagues  of  God  are 
due,  and  upon  which  the  vials  of  the  wrath  of  God  are 
to  be  poured  out. 

How  contrary  to  the  liberty  and  protection,  univer- 
sally promised  and  proclaimed,  our  unjust  imprisonment 
in  the  castle  and  city  of  Norwich  is,  may  plainly  ap- 
pear to  all  persons  of  understanding,  we  being  by  the 
Eternal  Spirit  of  the  Living  God  called  from  our  earth- 
ly habitations,  freely  to  declare  and  make  manifest  the 
Eternal  Word  of  God,  and  the  powers  of  the  world  to 
come,  as  made  manifest  in  us  by  the  Eternal  Spirit, 
coveting  no  man's  silver  or  gold  ;  but  freely  declaring 
what  we  have  freely  received  from  God,  in  love  to  the 
souls  of  all  people,  that  they  might  also  be  partakers 
with  us  of  the  powerful  Truth  of  God  ;  that  their  souls 
might  live  in  it  and  know  the  pure  God,  whom  all  the 


G.    WHITEHEAD.  65 

world  in  their  first  state  are  ignorant  of,  and  enemies 
to. 


Besides  our  hard  usage,  and  the  severity  of  our  con- 
finement, to  add  affliction  to  our  bonds,  one  Sampson 
Townsend,  by  trade  a  weaver,  who  had  taken  upon 
him  the  habit  and  place  of  a  priest  in  Austin's  parish  in 
Norwich,  to  make  himself  famous,  published  a  book  or 
pamphlet  against  us,  to  defame  us,  after  we  were  com- 
mitted to  prison,  as  being*  in  Norwich  gaol  for  errors 
and  miscarriages,  as  deniers  of  the  Word  of  God,  and 
the  Scriptures,  &c.  but  his  envy  and  falsehood  were 
publicly  detected.  Nevertheless,  after  Townsend  re- 
moved to  Repham,  I  having  a  meeting  in  that  town,  he 
came  to  oppose  me,  but  made  little  work  of  it ;  for  he 
was  manifestly  confounded,  not  acknowledging  the 
Word  to  be  before  the  Scriptures,  but  asserting  them 
to  be  the  only  Word  of  God ;  which  was  his  old  objec- 
tion against  us  when  in  Norwich  prison,  for  our  testi- 
mony to  Christ's  being  the  Word,  which  was  in  the 
beginning,  &c.  At  that  meeting  I  told  him,  the  word 
of  the  Lord  came  unto  the  prophet,  saying,  &c.  "  and 
these  are  the  words  of  Jeremiah  to  whom  the  word  of 
the  Lord  came,"  Jer.  i.  \. 

So  that  the  Holy  Scriptures  or  writings,  are  or  con- 
tain the  sayings  or  words  of  the  Eternal  Word,  that  is, 
of  God  and  Christ,  as  given  and  revealed  unto  his  ser- 
vants, prophets,  and- ministers  :  holy  men  of  God  spake 
as  they  were  moved  by  the  Holy  Ghost,  2  Pet.  i.  2L 
What  John  was  commanded  to  write,  were  the  true 
sayings  of  God,  Rev.  xix.  0.  But  of  Christ  he  saith,  his 
Name  is  called  "  the  Word  of  God,"  verse  13.  And  I 
think  it  is  no  slighting,  much  less  contempt  of  the  Holy 
Scriptures,  to  own  them  either  as  the  words  or  true 
sayings  of  God,  without  giving  them  the  same  Name 
or  Title,  which  more  properly  belongs  to  Christ  or 
God. 

After  our  discourse  at  the  said  meeting  at  Repham, 
as  I  was  riding  out  of  the  town,  the  word  of  the  Lord 

T  2 


66  MEMOIRS    OF 

came  upon  me,  to  warn  the  people  in  the  street  to 
repentance,  &c.  who  (for  no  other  cause)  evilly  intreat- 
cd  me,  by  stoning  me  in  a  furious  manner ;  insomuch 
that  I  could  scarcely  get  my  horse  to  stand,  or  abide  in 
the  place  where  1  declared  the  Truth  to  them,  until 
they  became  more  calm  and  quiet ;  so  that  I  cleared 
my  conscience  to  the  people  ;  for  the  Lord  stood  by 
me,  and  so  preserved  and  defended  me  by  his  Power 
and  merciful  Providence,  that  1  got  scarce  any  harm 
by  all  their  stoning  me ;  but  thereby  they  showed  what 
fruit  their  minister,  my  opposer,  had  brought  forth  by 
his  busy,  envious  opposition  against  us. 

And  now  to  return  to  the  course  of  my  intended  nar- 
rative ;  when  James  Lancaster  and  myself  were  ac- 
tually freed  out  of  Norwich  prison,  which  was,  as  I 
remember,  in  the  first  month,  called  March,  1654-5, 
the  oppressing  gaoler  being  removed  by  death,  and  his 
wife  more  tender  than  he  was.  I  really  believed  the 
special  hand  of  the  Lord  was  in  our  deliverance  ;  and 
1  was  very  thankful  to  ITim  that  we  were  so  well  freed 
out  of  that  prison,  but  we  left  C.  Atkinson  still  there.  In 
a  short  time  after  I  was  released,  T  went  to  see  two  pri- 
soners, who  remained  ;  whereupon  I  was  apprehended, 
and  had  before  Thomas  Toft,  mayor,  and  again  com- 
mitted to  the  said  prison  ;  and  detained  for  about  three 
weeks,  without  any  proof  or  colour  of  transgression,  or 
law  against  me,  but  only  the  arbitrary  will  and  preju- 
dice of  the  said  mayor. 

However  the  Lord  did  not  suffer  him  to  detain  me 
long,  having  other  and  further  work  and  service  for  me 
to  do,  for  his  Name  and  Truth's  sake. 

The  reason  of  the  said  C.  Atkinson's  remaining  in 
prison  after  the  rest,  was  partly  an  action  or  an  attach- 
ment of  privilege,  laid  upon  him  by  an  attorney,  for 
speaking  some  rash  or  hard  words  to  him,  which  he 
supposed  were  actionable ;  also  the  priest  who  then 
used  to  preach  to  the  prisoners,  took  occasion  to  com- 
plain against  him,  for  some  words  spoken,  whereby  the 
priest  was  aifronted.     However,  poor  man,  the  said 


G.    WHITEHEAD.  67 

C.  A.  was  not  altogether  so  prudent,  meek,  or  gentle  in 
his  conduct  as  he  ought  to  have  been  ;  and  that  was 
not  all,  but  worse  befell  him  after  he  was  left  alone  in 
prison  ;  for  though  he  got  more  liberty,  and  better  ac- 
commodation than  we  had  in  prison  when  together,  yet 
he  falling  into  too  much  fomiliaritv  and  conversation 
with  such  as  were  somewhat  inclining  to  a  spirit  of  Ran- 
terism,  he  grew  loose  and  waxed  wanton  against  Christ, 
his  Light  and  Truth ;  insomuch  that  at  a  certain  time 
having  a  little  liberty  granted  him  out  of  prison,  Rich- 
ard Clayton  and  I  met  him  at  a  Friend's  house  in  the 
country,  and  perceiving  him  got  into  too  much  lightness 
and  liberty,  we  met  with  him  alone,  and  seriously  ad- 
monished and  cautioned  him,  which  he  could  scarce 
bear,  without  appearing  offended  and  in  passion  ;  there- 
upon I  was  jealous  what  might  befall  him,  insomuch 
that  some  stop  came  upon  me  secretly,  that  I  had 
scarce  freedom  afterward  to  visit  him  in  prison.  He 
had  been  over  much  affected  by  some  weak,  indiscreet 
persons,  and  set  up  above  his  place,  to  his  hurt ;  and 
some  young  men  have  been  hurt  thereby. 

After  some  time  his  iniquity  becameobvious,  of  which 
my  dear  brother  Richard  Hubberthorn  gave  me  notice. 
Richard  and  Thomas  Symonds  went  to  see  him,  and 
he  told  them  there  was  no  redemption  for  him  :  thus 
he  was  tempted  to  despair,  by  the  enemy  that  had  pre- 
vailed over  him,  yet  he  gave  out  a  severe  testimony  in 
condemnation  against  himself.  When  I  heard  of  his 
foul  miscarriage,  it  brought  deep  sorrow  upon  me,  even 
unto  solitary  mourning  and  tears  for  Truth's  sake,  and 
our  poor  innocent  Friends',  who  had  lately  received 
the  Truth;  being  sensible  that  both  would  greatly 
sufTer,  and  be  reproached  thereby ;  however  the  Lord 
relieved  me  after  a  little  while,  and  laid  it  the  more 
upon  me  to  labour  and  travel  about  in  those  parts,  to 
strengthen  the  weak,  to  help  and  comfort  the  feeble, 
to  vindicate  the  blessed  Truth  and  Way  thereof,  and 
to  exalt  and  set  the  same  over  the  head  of  all  deceit 
and  wickedness  and  backsliders,  and  such  as  turn  into 


68  MKMOIKS  OP 

the  pollutions  of  the  world  ;  well  knowing  and  rennind- 
ing  Friends  and  others,  that  the  Truth  is  the  sanne, 
and  never  clianges,  and  ought  not  to  be  blamed;  but 
such  who  turn  their  backs  on  it,  are  condemnable ; 
and  judgment  follows  them.  And  it  was  the  Lord  that 
stood  by  me  in  that  service,  and  by  his  power  helped 
and  strengthened  me,  to  strengthen  and  help  many  ; 
so  that  the  scandal  took  the  less  elFect  to  do  hurt  or 
mischief  in  those  parts:  glory  and  dominion  to  our  God 
and  the  Lamb,  for  ever  and  ever ! 

After  my  release  out  of  prison  the  second  time,  1  tra- 
velled to  divers  parts  of  Norfolk  and  Sutlblk.  My  dear 
friend  and  brother  Richard  Clayton,  was  with  me  at 
some  meetings  in  Norfolk ;  and  there  was  an  honest 
minded  people  enquiring  after  the  Lord,  and  his  living 
Truth,  whose  hearts  lie  had  prepared  to  receive  it. 
And  I  well  remember  in  what  manner  the  Lord  opened 
my  heart,  and  enlarged  me  in  Gospel  testimony  toward 
those  people;  it  was  to  the  universal  love  and  Grace 
of  God,  the  J^ight  of  Christ  in  every  man,  to  turn  their 
minds  thereunto,  therein  to  wait  to  know  God's  teach- 
ings, and  to  come  into  the  New  Covenant  Dispensation, 
wherein  all  the  Lord's  people  are  taught  of  him,  and 
know  Him,  even  from  the  least  unto  the  greatest,  and 
witness  his  law  written  in  their  hearts,  and  his  Spirit 
in  their  inward  parts,  according  to  his  blessed  promises, 
and  this  his  New  and  Everlasting  Covenant,  as  prophe- 
sied of  by  the  holy  evangelical  prophets. 

In  this  New  Covenant,  not  only  the  liousc  of  Israel 
and  Judah  may  be  partakers  of  Christ,  but  all  truly 
believing  gentiles  also,  to  whom  Christ  is  given  for  a 
light  and  for  a  covenant,  and  to  be  God's  salvation  to 
the  ends  of  the  earth;  for  God  is  not  only  the  God  of 
the  Jews,  but  of  the  gentiles  also;  and  they  are  the 
true  Jews  and  Israel,  who  are  spiritually  such :  Jews 
inward,  by  the  spiritual  circumcision  of  the  heart  unto 
the  Loid  by  his  Holy  Spirit. 

And  in  order  to  come  under  this  New  Covenant  Dis- 
pensation and  ministry,  and  therein  to   know  and  ejK- 


G.    WHITEHEAD. 


69 


perience  Christ  to  be  their  Minister,  their  Teacher, 
their  High  Priest,  and  Prophet,  the  people  before  men- 
tioned were  persuaded  to  cease  from  man,  and  from  all 
their  ministers  and  priests,  made  by  the  will  of  man; 
who  preached  for  filthy  lucre  and  gain,  making  a  trade 
of  the  Holy  Scriptures ;  adding  their  own  divinations, 
meanings,  and  notions  thereunto ;  having  no  commis- 
sion given  them  to  preach,  and  making  a  trade  of  the 
words  and  testimonies  of  the  holy  prophets,  Christ  Jesus, 
or  his  apostles;  but  walking  contrary  to  their  steps  and 
practices,  in  pride  and  covetousness. 

The  Lord  often  laid  a  pressure  upon  me  and  others  of 
his  servants,  to  testify  against  the  pride  and  covetous- 
ness of  the  priests,  and  their  preaching  for  hire,  for 
tithes,  and  forced  maintenance,  contrary  to  Chrisfs 
command,  and  his  ministers'  example  ;  for  which  cause 
they  were  the  more  envious  against  us;  and  in  their 
pulpits  exclaimed,  and  made  a  great  noise  to  incense 
the  people  and  magistrates  against  the  Quakers,  so 
called,  even  under  severe  persecution  and  imprison- 
ment ;  and  the  greater  necessity  was  laid  upon  me, 
and  others  of  the  Lord's  servants,  to  testify  against 
those  envious  priests,  sometimes  even  in  their  public 
places,  improperly  called  churches,  to  undeceive  the 
people,  that  they  might  not  still  be  led  captive. 

It  is  still  a  matter  to  me  very  memorable,  that  by 
preaching  livingly  the  Light,  the  New  Covenant,  the 
Word  nigh  to  people  in  their  hearts,  yea,  the  Gospel  of 
the  free  Grace  and  love  of  God  in  Christ  to  mankind; 
many  were  really  and  effectually  convinced  and  per- 
suaded of  the  blessed  ever  livingTruth,  as  it  is  in  Christ 
Jesus,  in  the  counties  of  Norfolk,  Suffolk,  Essex,  &c. 
where  the  Lord  led  me  early  to  travel,  and  helped  and 
prospered  me  in  his  service ;  blessed  and  praised  be 
his  Name  for  ever  I 

When  I  was  at  Mendlesham  meeting,  at  Robert 
Duncan's,  A.  D.  1655,  George  Fox  the  younger,  a  Suf- 
folk man,  was  effectually  convinced,  and  received  the 


70 


MEMoina  or 


Truth,  being  then  lately  come  out  of  the  parliament's 
army  in  Scotland. 

One  remarkable  passage,  and  the  consequences 
thereof,  I  may  not  omit :  the  aforesaid  John  Lawrence 
(see  page  52)  had  been  a  member  of  an  Independant 
congregation,  and  because  he  left  them  and  received 
us  and  our  friends,  their  pastor,  one  Timothy  Armitage, 
and  the  elders  called  him  in  question,  and  were  minded 
to  excommunicate  him. 

The  same  year  1 655,  he  was  summoned  to  their 
meeting  in  Norwich,  at  the  parish  church  called 
George's  of  Tomland;  and  I  went  with  him  thither, 
and  Edmund  Bedwell,  who  had  not  then  left  off  his 
sword,  or  falchion ;  which  I  blamed  him  for,  thinking 
they  would  take  occasion  against  him  and  us  for  it,  as 
some  of  them  did  afterward.  There  was  a  great  con- 
course of  people,  men  and  women  met  together,  with 
their  pastor  and  elders,  and  they  repeated  their  charge 
against  John  Lawrence,  to  this  purpose,  viz.  His 
forsaking  their  church  or  communion  ;  his  entertaining 
strangers,  or  persons  dangerous,  or  holding  dangerous 
doctrines,  &.c.  But  I  could  not  perceive  any  matter  of 
fact  they  could  prove  against  him  of  any  error,  or  dan- 
gerous consequence;  what  they  insinuated  against  him, 
appeared  to  be  without  proof,  or  colour  thereof. 

Then  he  was  to  give  his  reasons  why  he  left  them 
or  their  church,  whereof  he  had  been  a  member  ;  to 
which  he  answered  according  to  the  apostle  Paul's  doc- 
trine, 2  Tim.  iji.  to  turn  away  from  such  as  have  a 
form  of  godliness,  but  deny  the  power  thereof;  namely, 
such  as  are  proud,  heady,  high  minded,  and  covetous, 
though  they  may  have  a  form  or  profession  of  godliness, 
yet  denying  the  power  thereof,  from  such  we  are  to 
turn  away,  &c.  And  the  said  John  Lawrence  apply- 
ing this  to  them  who  then  went  about  to  excommuni- 
cate him,  gave  the  same  for  his  reason  why  he  turned 
away  from  them ;  though  they  had  a  form  or  profes- 
sion of  godliness,  yet  they  denied  the  power  thereof; 
and  therefore  he  might  justly  turn  away  from  them,  <fcc. 


G.    WHITiSnEAD.  71 

After  which,  in  the  fear  and  dread  of  the  Lord,  I 
stood  up  to  declare  a  few  words  among  them,  but  they 
quickly  pulled  me  down,  and  by  force  held  me  down  in 
the  pew  where  we  were ;  and  some  of  their  proud 
women  that  were  near  us,  expressed  their  rage  and  en- 
vy against  me  in  particular ;  and  some  of  their  church 
forcibly  haled  and  pushed  me  out  of  the  stceple-housej 
and  exposed  me  to  a  rude  multitude,  who  stood  ready 
to  lay  violent  hands  on  me ;  and  they  pushed  and 
haled  me  away  through  the  streets  and  market  place 
of  the  city,  sometimes  throwing  me  down  upon  the 
stones,  whereby  I  was  bruised  ;  though  the  hurt  1  got 
thereby,  the  Lord  was  pleased  to  remove  in  a  short 
time.  They  followed  and  encompassed  me,  pushing 
me  along,  roaring  and  shouting,  until  I  came  near  to 
the  city  gate,  called  Giles's  gate,  next  to  a  little  pasture 
ground  ;  at  the  upper  end  whereof  I  saw  a  great  house, 
where  the  Lady  Hubbard  dwelt;  upon  the  sight 
whereof  I  was  in  a  great  strait,  and  at  a  stand  in  my 
mind,  the  tumult  being  great  about  me,  whether  I 
should  then  go  out  of  the  city  in  order  to  go  toward 
Wramplingham,  to  John  Lawrence's,  or  whether  I 
should  turn  up  toward  the  said  great  house, desiring 
the  Lord  to  direct  me  at  that  instant.  Hereupon  I  con- 
sidered that  if  I  should  then  turn  out  of  the  city  into 
the  high  way,  toward  Wramplingham,  I  might  be  in 
danger  to  lose  my  life  by  that  violent,  tumultous  com- 
pany that  were  then  about  me ;  and  it  would  be  the 
less  regarded,  or  taken  notice  of;  and  therefore  if  I 
must  lose  my  life,  it  would  be  better  to  die  where  my 
testimony  was  to  be  borne  within  the  city  of  Norwich, 
and  where  my  persecution  was  begun,  rather  than  by 
the  tumult  without  the  city,  or  abroad  in  the  held ; 
for  1  was  given  up  to  suffer  what  violence  the  Lord 
might  permit  them  to  do  unto  me. 

On  which  consideration  I  immediately  turned  up  to 
Lady  Hubbard's,  the  tumultous,  raging  company  con- 
tinuing still  about  me ;  by  whose  shouting  the  lady's 
chaplain,  Dr.  Collins,  as  he  was  afterwards  termed,  and 


72  MEMOIRS  OF 

most  of  the  family,  came  out  too  see  and  hear  what 
was  the  matter  of  such  a  great  neise,  and  why  such  a 
mob  came  before  the  house  ;  and  they  beheld  me  that 
I  was  the  person  beset  and  persecuted. 

The  chaplain  understanding  what  I  was,  undertook 
to  discourse  with  me,  first  by  way  of  interrogation,  con- 
cerning the  same  spirit  which  the  apostles  of  Christ 
had;  ifl  had  the  same  spirit?  I  owned  that  in  measure 
I  partook  of  the  same  Spirit,  though  I  would  not  equal- 
ize my  degree  of  attainment  to  tbeirs.  Then  if  1  had 
that  spirit,  the  chaplain  would  have  mc  demonstrate  or 
prove  it,  by  some  sign  or  miracle,  as  the  apostles  did. 
Or,  if  I  could  speak  with  tongues  by  a  gift  of  the  Spirit, 
and  not  by  acquirement,  as  by  human  learning.  1  an- 
swered him,  according  to  the  apostle  Paul's  words  in 
that  case,  1  Cor.  xii.  speaking  of  the  diversities  of  gifts, 
given  by  one  and  the  same  spirit,  1  told  him,  all  who  had 
the'spirit  of  Christ,  had  not  all  those  gifts,  as  that  of 
tongues  and  miracles,  for  "  to  one  is  given  the  w^ord  of 
wisdom ;  to  another  the  word  of  knowledge ;  to  ano- 
ther faith  ;  to  ahother  working  of  miracles  ;  to  another 
prophecy  ;  to  another  divers  kinds  of  tongues  ;  to  ano- 
ther intlerpretation  of  tongues :  yet  all  by  the  same 
Spirit,"  the  Spirit  and  power  of  Christ. 

It  is  evident  that  these  gifts  of  tongues  and  miracles, 
&c.  were  not  common  to  all  who  had  the  Spirit  of 
Christ,  in  the  primitive  church,  but  peculiar  to  some, 
as  these  questions  import,  viz.  "Are  all  apostles?  Are 
all  prophets  ?  Are  all  teachers  ?  Are  all  workers  of 
miracles?  Have  all  the  gifts  of  healing?  Do  all  speak 
with  tongues  ?  &.c.  1  Cor.  xii.  20,  30.  implying  that  all 
the  ministers  and  members  of  the  church  were  not  so 
gifted  in  all  these  respects,  though  they  all  had  one  and 
the  same  Spirit,  from  whence  these  gifts  came.  And 
1  may  have  the  word  of  wisdom,  knowledge,  and  faith, 
by  the  same  spirit,  and  yet  not  the  gift  of  tongues  and 
miracles.  It  no  ways  follows  that  none  have  the  spirit, 
but  they  who  have  those  gifts.  I  then  clearly  saw  the 
chaplain's  way  of  reasoning  in  this  case  would  not  hold. 


G.    WHITEHEAD.  73 

When  he  perceived  how  tumultous  and  rude  the 
company  about  had  been  against  me,  he  questioned  why 
1  did  not  quiet  or  quell  them,  or  supposed  I  might,  if  I  had 
the  same  Spirit  or  power,  the  apostles  had.  I  answered 
him,  that  the  apostle  Paul  himself  desired  the  church  of 
the  Thessalonians  to  pray  for  him,  that  the  Lord  would 
deliver  him  out  of  the  hands  of  unreasonable  men,  for 
all  have  not  faith.  He  was  therefore  sometimes  in  the 
handsof  unreasonable  men,  when  in  tumults  ;  and  the 
Lord  delivered  him  out  of  their  hands.  While  we  dis- 
coursed, my  persecutors  stood  silent,  as  in  a  ring,  and 
heard  us,  on  the  subjects  before  related  ;  our  discourse 
held  but  a  little  while,  1  suppose  about  half  an  hour. 

In  the  mean  time  came  a  soldier  or  trooper,  with  his 
sword  by  his  side,  and  perceiving  me  to  be  the  person 
persecuted  and  watched  by  that  rude  company,  as  1 
withdrew  he  came  to  me,  and  said,  he  would  go  along 
with  me,  and  guard  me  to  my  quarters,  or  lodgings ; 
and  laying  his  hand  upon  his  sword,  commanded  the 
mob  to  stand  off,  to  make  way.  So  I  was  quietly  res- 
cued, and  he  went  along  with  me  to  my  dear  friend 
Thomas  Symond's  house  in  the  city. 

I  saw  it  was  of  the  Lord  that  I  was  put  in  mind  to  draw 
toward  that  house,  the  Lady  Hubbard's,  when  1  was 
in  such  a  strait  in  the  tumult  as  before  related  ;  and 
that  a  stranger  should  be  at  last  stirred  up  to  rescue 
me  out  of  the  hands  of  such  unreasonable  men,  as  had 
beset  and  abused  me  with  violence.  1  have  often  been 
thankful  to  God  for  his  merciful  Providence  in  that  de- 
liverance. 

The  said  soldier  who  took  such  care  to  rescue  me, 
afterward  came  into  society  with  the  people  called 
Quakers,  wherein  the  Lord  showed  mercy  to  him ;  his 
name  was  Robert  Turner,  of  Lynn.  I  knew  not  that 
he  was  the  man  that  rescued  me  till  twenty-five  years 
after,  when  I  was  again  prisoner  in  Norwich  castle, 
with  many  more  Friends,  in  the  year  1 680. 

In  those  days,  prisons  and  gaols  were  made  sanctua- 

VOL.    I,  G 


74  mi:moirs  of 

ries,  and  places  of  refuge  and  safety  to  us,  from  the  fury 
of  the  tumultuous  mob  ;  although  we  met  with  but 
hard  usage  in  those  places  of  severe  confinement,  many 
times  among  notorious  criminals  ;  and  although  I  suf- 
fered both  in  tumults  and  imprisonments,  by  hard 
usage  in  them,  the  Lord  helped  and  sustained  me  by 
his  Divine  power  and  goodness,  so  that  I  was  not  wea- 
ry of  his  service,  nor  my  spirit  faint  in  my  sutfcrings. 
The  grateful  remembrance  of  his  goodness,  and  lively 
sense  of  his  love  to  my  soul  in  those  days,  still  live  and 
remain  upon  my  spirit;  praised  be  our  God  forever 
and  evermore! 

My  dear  friend  and  brother,  Richard  Ilubberthorn, 
being  longer  detained  prisoner  at  Norwich  castle  than 
I  was  in  the  city  prison,  in  the  year  1 654-5,  I  wanted 
a  suitable  companion  to  travel  with  me,  in  the  work  of 
the  Gospel  ministry  in  those  parts ;  except,  as  before 
related,  Richard  Clayton  travelled  with^me  in  some 
parts  of  Norfolk  ;  and  Thomas  Bond  was  with  me  for  a 
short  space  at  some  few  meetings,  where  I  had  labour- 
ed in  the  Lord's  work  and  service. 

The  Lord  did  greatly  assist  me,  and  gave  me  living 
encouragement  and  comfort  when  I  was  much  alone, 
in  his  work  and  service ;  and  1  was  the  more  comforted 
and  animated  in  spirit  by  his  divine  power  and  presence, 
in  feeling  and  perceiving  his  blessed  work  to  prosper, 
and  the  truth  of  the  Gospel  of  Christ  take  effect  upon 
the  hearts  and  spirits  of  many,  both  old  and  young  ; 
opening  their  understandings,  convincing  them  and  con- 
verting them  to  Christ  the  true  light,  and  turning  many 
from  darkness,  and  the  works  thereof,  to  know  his  di- 
vine power  to  make  them  his  dear  children  and  people ; 
as  many  were  in  those  early  days.  And  how  diligent 
were  many  in  those  days,  in  going  many  miles  to 
Friends'  meetings,  both  ancient  and  young,  men  and 
women,  maidens  and  children  !  What  love,  what  bro- 
kennessand  tenderness,  would  be  and  appear  in  meetings 
in  those  days  of  their  first  love  and  espousals !  where- 
in   many  were   espoused  unto  Christ   Jesus,   in  his 


G.    WHITEHEAD.  75 

light,  life,  and  Spirit,  and  many  of  those  loving  and  ten- 
der Friends,  who  were  of  the  first  fruits  among  us,  con- 
tinued and  ended  their  days. 

After  Richard  Hubberthorn  was  delivered  out  of 
Norwich  castle,  we  had  some  comfortable  meetings  to- 
gether in  Norfolk,  in  the  work  and  fellowship  of  the 
Gospel  of  Christ  Jesus;  and  particularly  at  Pulham,  at 
William  Grudfield's,  who  was  an  ancient,  honest-heart- 
ed man,  and  received  the  truth  and  Friends  in  much 
love  and  tenderness :  and  also  at  Matthew  Elmy's,  at 
Margret's  of  Ilkisson,  in  the  nine  parishes,  not  far  from 
Beccles.  He  and  his  wife  and  family  received  the  love 
of  the  truth,  and  were  very  honest,  loving  people. 

On  that  side  the  country,  were  gathered  a  few 
Friends  who  were  truly  convinced  and  turned  to  the 
Lord,  his  light  and  Spirit  in  their  hearts ;  among  whom 
was  William  Bennet,  whom  the  Lord  endued  with  his 
heavenly  gift,  so  as  he  became  a  living  minister  of  the 
Gospel  of  Life  and  salvation,  being  also  of  an  innocent 
and  holy  conversation ;  and  afterward  for  his  faithful 
testimony,  he  was  a  great  sufferer  in  Edmunds-Bury 
gaol. 

The  said  Richard  Hubberthorn  and  I  also  had  a  con- 
siderable public  meeting  at  Beccles,  in  a  yard  or  or- 
chard, where  several  sorts  of  professing  people  came ; 
some  of  them  opposed,  others  questioned  our  testimony 
concerning  the  Light  of  Christ  in  men,  or.  His  enligh- 
tening every  man  that  cometh  into  the  world.  Our 
doctrine  of  the  Light  within,  was  chiefly  questioned  and 
stumbled  at  in  those  times,  even  by  many  great  pro- 
fessors and  teachers,  as  if  it  had  been  some  new  doc- 
trine ;  though  it  be  both  as  ancient  and  scriptural  as 
any  other  Divinity,  taught  by  the  holy  prophets  or  mi- 
nisters of  God  or  Christ. 

Among  the  opposers  and  questioners  of  our  doctrine 
of  the  Light,  at  our  said  meeting  at  Beccles,  was  one 
Richard  Townsend,  who  behaved  himself  more  mildly 
than  some  of  the  company,  seeming  to  be  more  upon 
the  enquiry  than  any  way  prepossessed  with  prejudice. 


76  MEMOIRS    OF 

Though  he  stumbled  about  the  Light ;  yet  upon  our 
demonstrating  the  truth  thereof,  and  how  the  Light 
shows  to  man  and  reproves  him  for  sin,  and  would  in- 
struct him  to  repentance,  and  lead  him  out  of  sin  and 
evil,  if  obeyed  and  followed ;  and  that  when  the  Gos- 
pel is  truly  and  livingly  preached  to  men,  this  Light  in 
them  answers,  and  beareth  witness  thereunto,  and  con- 
vinceth  them  of  the  truth  of  what  is  preached,  and  de- 
clared in  the  demonstration  of  the  Spirit ;  and  are 
made  capable  truly  to  receive  what  is  so  preached  and 
testified  unto  them,  which  otherwise  they  could  not  by 
their  mere  natural  capacities.  On  this  wise,  or  to  this 
effect,  the  Light  within  and  the  doctrine  of  the  Light, 
being  argued  for  on  our  parts,  the  said  Richard  Town- 
send  confessed,  that  there  is  an  echo  in  men's  con- 
sciences, answering  to  the  ministry  of  the  Gospel ;  and 
this  echo  he  somewhat  insisted  upon,  but  could  not  ab- 
solutely deny  the  Principle  of  Light  in  men,  being  spi- 
ritual. 

Howbeit,  after  our  discourse  with  him,  with  our 
Christian  instructions  then  given,  he  took  these  things 
into  farther  and  deeper  consideration,  insomuch  that 
Truth  took  such  place  in  him  and  bore  such  weight, 
that,  some  time  after,  he  came  into  society  with  our 
Friends,  not  only  to  profess  the  Truth  he  had  question- 
ed, but  also  to  bear  witness  thereunto  in  conversation 
and  public  testimony. 

In  the  former  part  of  the  summer,  in  the  year  1655, 
I  had  a  very  remarkable,  and  indeed  memorable  meet- 
ing, in  High-Sutrolk,  at  Charsfield,  a  few  miles  from 
Woodbridge,  where  George  Fox  the  younger  then  lived 
with  his  father ;  and  it  was  the  first  meeting  of  Friends 
that  was  on  that  side  of  the  country,  and  the  largest 
that  1  had  had  before  in  High-Suifolk  :  I  had  no  com- 
panion then  in  the  ministry  with  me,  but  some  Friends 
from  Mendlesham  side.  Unto  that  meeting  there  was 
a  very  great  resort  of  people  about  the  country  of  divers 
sorts;  and  the  Lord  having   prepared  the  hearts  of 


G.    WHITEUEAD.  77 

many  of  them,  to  seek  after  and  receive  the  Truth, 
they  came  with  good  intentions  and  desires. 

We  had  the  meeting  in  an  orchard  or  yard ;  it  be- 
gan before  mid-day,  and  I  had  a  stool  to  stand  upon. 
After  I  had  waited  upon  the  Lord  a  little  space,  for  his 
Power  to  arise,  and  give  me  strength  to  stand  up  in  tes- 
timony, the  people  being  in  great  expectation  to  hear 
and  observe  what  might  be  declared,  the  Lord  was 
graciously  pleased  to  give  me  strength  and  abihty  in  his 
Name,  to  bear  a  living  and  faithful  testimony  accord- 
ing to  the  openings  and  discoveries  given  me  by  his 
Free  Spirit,  and  the  ability  and  gift  received  of  him  to 
preach  the  everlasting  Gospel,  in  the  Name  and  Power 
of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ ;  and  agreeable  also  to  the 
Scriptures  of  Truth,  the  testimonies  of  the  holy  pro- 
phets, Christ  Jesus,  and  his  apostles.  I  was  wonder- 
fully assisted  and  enlarged  in  my  testimony  for  Him 
and  his  blessed  Gospel  Truth,  insomuch  that  1  was  en- 
abled to  stand  upon  the  stool,  though  slippery,  near  five 
hours  that  day,  preaching  the  Truth,  and  opening  those 
things  which  concerned  the  kingdom  of  Christ  and  of 
God,  and  men's  everlasting  salvation.  And  many  were 
that  day  livingly  touched  in  their  hearts,  and  effectually 
convinced  in  their  consciences  of  the  Truth  then  sin- 
cerely and  livingly  declared  unto  them  in  the  power  and 
demonstration  of  the  Holy  Spirit. 

After  I  had  declared  for  some  time,  one  John  Burch, 
a  preacher  among  the  Baptists,  appeared  to  make  some 
objections  about  the  ordinances,  as  water  baptism,  &,c. 
and  also  about  the  coming  of  Christ  in  person.  I  being 
called  unto  a  spiritual  ministry,  in  order  to  bring  people 
out  of  shadows  to  the  substance,  and  to  know  Christ  in 
Spirit,  and  not  after  the  flesh,  nor  to  rest  only  in  a  lite- 
ral knowledge  of  Christ,  but  that  they  might  know  him 
livingly  and  inwardly  after  the  Spirit ;  1  gave  answer 
to  him,  in  the  spirit  of  meekness,  for  his  better  infor- 
mation, and  instruction  in  the  way  of  God  more  perfect- 
ly than  either  John's  Baptism,  outward  shadows,  or 
mere  literal  knowledge  could  bring  any  one  to. 

G  2 


78  MEMOIRS    OF 

In  a  little  time  John  was  silent,  and  seemed  somewhat 
satisfied,  and  after  farther  and  serious  consideration, 
came  to  receive  the  Truth  in  an  inward  sight  and  sense 
of  the  power  thereof,  insomuch  that  he  laid  down  his 
former  preaching  and  profession,  and  became  willing  to 
wait  upon  the  Lord  among  Friends  in  silence.  And 
after  some  years,  he  was  raised  up  to  bear  testimony 
to  the  Light,  the  Spirit,  and  Power  of  Christ  Jesus ; 
and  so  came  to  be  a  minister  thereof,  in  order  to  bring 
people  into  the  knowledge  of  Christ  and  his  spiritual 
baptism  in  them.  In  his  ministry,  the  said  John  Burch 
was  very  serviceable,  especially  in  his  latter  days  :  he 
kept  in  the  faith  of  Christ ;  and  in  love  and  unity  ended 
his  days  in  peace. 

But  to  return  to  the  said  remarkable  and  memorable 
meeting ;  in  the  latter  part  thereof,  came  several  noted 
priests,  who  were  pastors  and  teachers  among  the  peo- 
ple called  Independents,  as  Francis  Woodell,  and  one 

Habergham,  with  some  others,  and  made  some 

objections  and  questionings;  both  the  people  and  John 
Burch  and  company  being  very  attentive,  and  observ- 
ing to  see  what  work  they  would  make  of  it  against  us. 

They  came  wrongfully  prepossessed  and  prejudiced 
against  us,  that  we  denied  the  Holy  Scriptures,  Christ, 
his  ordinances,  church  and  ministry.  But  in  a  httle 
discourse  with  them,  I  perceived  they  were  to  seek, 
being  ignorant  of  our  Christian  principles  and  doctrine; 
but  what  they  had  conceived  against  us,  seemed  chiefly 
to  proceed  from  the  false  and  injurious  reports  of  our 
adversaries,  whereby  we  had  been  rendered  so  mon- 
strous, so  anti-christian,  and  anti-scriptural,  in  religion 
and  profession,  that  they  thought  they  might  easily 
deal  with  us,  and  run  us  down:  but  such  sort  of  pre- 
judging, and  condemning  people,  caused  those  opposers, 
and  many  others,  to  go  but  lamely  to  work  against  us ; 
and  the  clearness  of  our  Christian  confessions  and  scrip- 
tural vindications,  has  many  times  put  a  damp  upon 
their  spirits  when  they  have  come  upon  trial  face  to 
face ;  as  it  appeared  at  that  time  with  the  said  Inde- 


G.    WHITEHEAD.  79 

pendent  ministers ;  and  as  I  have  known  in  many  dis- 
putes which  I  have  been  concerned  in,  with  opposers 
and  adversaries,  how  quickly  they  have  been  quashed, 
when  they  have  appeared  against  us  from  false  reports, 
and  the  authorities  of  envious  adversaries ;  which  they 
who  are  credulous  of,  will  gain  no  credit  by,  especially 
when  they  will  judge  or  condemn  others  upon  such 
reports  and  misrepresentations :  for  this  T  have  often 
observed  in  religious  controversies  or  disputes,  my  op- 
ponent could  give  me  no  greater  advantage  against 
him,  than  by  making  use  of  false  reports,  or  authorities 
of  malicious  persons,  or  their  books ;  or  by  his  being 
given  to  passion,  anger,  or  fury,  which  blind  men's 
minds,  and  cloud  their  reason  and  understandings. 

But  the  aforesaid  ministers,  however  prepossessed, 
carried  themselves  tolerably  moderate  towards  me  and 
our  Friends,  at  the  said  nieeting ;  and  after  they  were 
clearly  and  plainly  answered,  and  their  expectations  of 
getting  any  advantage  against  us  or  our  doctrine  frus- 
trated, they  departed ;  and  the  Truth  greatly  gained 
ground  that  day,  and  at  that  meeting  ;  and  many  were 
truly  convinced,  and  their  hearts  turned  to  God,  his 
Grace,  and  Truth. 

That  was  the  first  and  foundation-meeting  which 
we  had  on  that  side  of  High-Suffolk,  and  which  ever 
since  has  continued  in  those  parts;  as  after  that,  for  a 
long  time  at  Dalingho,  at  Robert  Mann's ;  at  John 
Bennet's,  at  Bradfield  ;  and  at  William  Fiddeman's, 
and  sometimes  at  Arthur  Goddard's,  all  on  that  side  the 
country,  a  few  miles  from  Woodbridge.  These  were 
honest,  loving  Friends,  who  thus  early  received  the 
blessed  Truth  and  Friends,  and  meetings  at  their 
houses,  and  continued  so  to  the  end  of  their  days  ;  some 
years  after  the  meeting  was  settled  at  Woodbridge. 

A  little  while  after  the  said  meeting,  Richard  Hub- 
berthorn  met  me  in  High-Suffolk,  and  we  had  a  good, 
large,  and  quiet  meeting,  at  the  same  place,  to  which 
came  some  of  the  said  ministers,  and  other  professors  ; 
we  met  with  no  great  opposition  from  them,  there  be- 


80  MEMOIRS  or 

ing  some  more  moderately  inquisitive  than  others; 
besides  they  could  not  tell  what  to  make  of  the  Light 
within,  or  immortal  Seed  in  man,  or  our  doctrine 
thereof,  though  scriptural ;  yet  in  those  days,  those 
professing  Independent  ministers  were  in  high  esteem, 
being  paramount,  and  divers  of  them  parish  priests. 

Tilings  then  were  quietly  managed  to  the  end  of  the 
meeting,  and  the  Truth  still  gained  ground  ;  and  many 
grew  weary  of  the  priests,  and  more  and  more  left 
them  and  their  formal  worship,  and  resorted  to  our 
meeting,  both  in  that  county  and  in  Norfolk ;  and  many 
meetings  of  our  Friends  came  to  be  settled  in  those 
places. 

After  considerable  labour  and  service  in  testimony 
for  the  Truth  and  Gospel  of  Christ  Jesus,  in  the  years 
1654  and  1055,  besides  the  imprisonment  in  Norwich 
before  related,  my  dear  friend  Richard  Clayton  and  I 
meeting  again  in  Iligh  Suffolk,  in  the  5th  month,  1055, 
travelled  together  to  Colchester;  where  James  Parnel, 
that  early  servant  of  Christ,  was  prisoner  in  the  castle, 
he  being  committed  but  a  little  time  before  we  visited 
him  in  prison.  He  was  given  up  to  suffer  for  his  faith- 
ful testimony,  was  comforted  in  our  visit ;  and  we  were 
glad  to  see  him  so  well.  So  we  travelled  forward  on 
the  road  toward  London,  being  desirous  to  sec  our  bre- 
thren and  friends  in  that  city,  if  the  Lord  had  permit- 
ted. We  went  that  day  from  the  White  Elm  near 
Ipswich,  to  near  Chelmsford  on  foot,  being  nearly  forty 
miles;  and  in  the  road,  meeting  with  our  dear  friend 
and  brother  George  Fox,  and  Amos  Stoddard,  coming 
from  London  into  Essex,  were  very  glad  to  see  them ; 
insomuch  that  our  desires  of  going  forward  were  in 
part  answered  for  that  time ;  and  we  were  willing  to 
stay  with  them  at  some  meetings  in  Essex ;  which  we 
did,  as  at  Great  Coggeshall  and  Lexden  near  Colches- 
ter, where  George  Fox  gave  large  testimony  to  the 
Truth  of  Christ,  and  against  the  world's  corruptions. 

On  the  first-day  of  the  week  following,  being  the  29th 
day  of  the  5th  month,  1 055,  1  had  a  very  good  meeting 


G.    WHITEHEAD.  81 

at  South-Halsted,  in  John  Isaac's  barn,  Richard  Clay- 
ton being  with  me ;  and  John  Harwood  a  Yorkshire 
man,  having  met  us  in  Essex,  M'as  minded  to  travel  a 
little  with  us.  At  that  meeting  the  Lord  greatly  en- 
larged my  heart,  in  his  Gospel  testimony  toward  that 
people  ;  for  the  hearts  of  many  of  them  were  well-dis- 
posed and  inclined  toward  God  and  his  blessed  Truth: 
and  he,  by  his  invisible  power,  had  opened  a  door  of 
entrance  among  them,  as  well  as  a  door  of  utterance 
unto  them.  James  Parnel  had  been  instrumental  to 
convince  divers  in  those  parts  that  summer,  before  his 
imprisonment  at  Colchester ;  and  by  his  testimony  and 
living  ministry,  divers  professors  were  shaken,  and  at  a 
loss  in  their  professions  and  notions  which  they  had 
gathered  in  their  heads,  without  experience  of  a  true 
heart  work  by  the  power  of  Christ :  for  profession  and 
talk  of  religion  and  church,  did  greatly  abound  in  those 
days,  as  well  as  pride  and  self-conceit,  which  the  Lord 
was  about  to  stain  and  abase,  as  he  manifestly  did  in  a 
short  time  after ;  for  those  summer  shows  of  religion 
would  not  endure  a  stormy  winter. 

I  must  confess  to  the  glory  of  God  in  my  own  self- 
abasement,  and  his  bearing  sway  over  my  will  and 
affections,  by  his  own  power,  wisdom,  and  providence, 
1  was  at  that  time  prevented  from  going  to  London,  to 
visit  my  brethren  and  friends  there,  according  to  my 
own  desire  and  affection  ;  the  Lord  having  then  more 
work  and  service,  as  well  as  suflering  for  me  to  ga 
through  in  the  country,  and  particularly  in  the  county 
of  Suffolk,  before  I  might  obtain  my  desire  of  going  to 
London  :  having  had  blessed  and  effectual  service,  by 
the  special  assistance  of  the  Lord's  power  in  Norfolk 
and  in  High-Suffolk,  I  must  now  be  a  sufferer  in  Low- 
Suffolk,  and  bear  my  testimony  for  Him,  in  a  hard  con- 
finement and  inhuman  treatment  in  prison  ;  for  in  those 
days  among  the  exercises  which  befel  many  of  us,  whom 
the  Lord  so  early  called,  and  sent  forth  to  preach  the 
Gospel  of  repentance  unto  life  and  salvation,  we  were 


82  MEMOIRS,  &:c. 

led  one  while  to  run  to  and  fro,  that  knowledge  might 
increase  among  people,  in  the  ways  and  dealings  of  the 
Lord  ;  another  while  suddenly  were  permitted  to  be 
taken  and  imprisoned,  strictly  confined,  and  severely 
used ;  as  the  subsequent  accounts  may  in  part  show, 
and  also  what  manner  of  spirit  did  rule  in  and  influence 
some  sorts  of  men,  under  high  professions,  and  great 
pretensions  of  religion  and  Christianity ;  and  how  un- 
christian they  were  in  practice. 


(    83  ) 


SECTION  IV. 

G.  W.  and  others  imprisoned  in  Edmunds-Bury  gaol — released  by 
order  from  the  Protf  ^tor — Visits  London,  and  returns  into  Essex 
and  Suffolk — Cruelly  whipped  at  Nayland,  when  not  21  years  of 
age — Travels  afterwards  in  Essex,  Suffolk,  Huntingdonshire, 
Warwickshire,  Worcestershire,  Gloucestershire,  and  Hereford- 
shire till  the  middle  of  the  year  1637. 

Of  the  severe  imprisonment  referred  to  it  the  pre- 
ceding chapter,  the  author  has  given  a  very  minute  ac- 
count, the  substance  of  which  will  be  found  in  the  fol- 
lowing summary. 

Richard  Clayton  and  John  Harwood  appear  to  have 
accompanied  George  Whitehead  into  Suffolk ;  and  in 
passing  through  the  town  of  Bures,  Richard  Clayton 
thought  it  his  duty  to  affix  a  paper  upon  the  steeple- 
house  door,  on  which  several  passages  of  Scripture 
were  written,  to  show  "  the  evil  fruits,  covetousness, 
and  corruption  of  false  teachers  and  leaders."  His 
companions  passed  on  a  little  way  whilst  he  was  put- 
ting up  the  paper ;  but  observing  that  some  people 
were  collected  about  him,  they  returned,  and  exhorted 
them  "  to  fear  God  and  turn  from  the  evil  of  their 
ways," 

Whilst  they  were  speaking,  a  constable  of  the  place 
arrived,  who  took  George  Whitehead  and  John  Har- 
wood before  a  justice  of  the  peace.  He,  though  unable 
to  show  any  law  which  they  had  broken,  committed  them 
to  Edmunds-Bury  gaol,  to  take  their  trial  at  the  ses- 
sions. Richard  Clayton  was  taken  before  the  same 
magistrate,  who  ordered  him  to  be  whipped  in  the 
town,  and  sent  out  of  it  with  a  pass ;  which  was  accord- 
ingly done. 

After  laying  between  two  and  three  months  in  gaol 
the  session  arrived,  when  George  Whitehead  and  John 


84  MEMOIRS    OF 

Harwood  were  tried  as  common  disturbers  of  the  peace. 
In  the  commitment,  George  Whitehead  had  been  de- 
scribed as  an  idle  wandering  fellow  from  Orton  in  Cum- 
berland ;  but  the  indictment  was  preferred  against 
George  Whitehead  and  John  Harwood  as  labourers  of 
Bures ;  and  they  were  accused  of  having  several  times 
disturbed  the  magistrates  and  mi-^isters;  and  with 
having  been  several  days  and  times  at  Bures  before 
they  were  taken  prisoners.  But  neither  the  obvious 
error  in  the  description  of  the  prisoners,  nor  the  entire 
want  of  proof  of  the  charge,  could  avail  any  thing  in 
their  favour. 

They  were  scarcely  permitted  to  speak ;  and  the 
justice  who  committed  them  and  who  was  on  the  bench, 
acted  as  an  accuser,  and  threatened  the  gaoler  to  fine 
him  forty  shillings,  if  he  did  not  silence  them  when  they 
attempted  to  answer  the  chargesbrought  against  them. 
The  jury  complied  with  the  wishes  of  the  magistrates, 
and  brought  in  a  verdict  that  they  were  guilty  accord- 
ing to  the  manner  and  form  of  the  indictment ;  .and 
they  were  sentenced  to  pay  a  fine  of  twenty  nobles 
each. 

As  they  would  have  considered  the  payment  of  this 
fine  an  acknowledgment  of  guilt,  Ihey  refused  the  pay- 
ment of  it  and  were  returned  to  their  prison,  where 
they  continued  twelve  months,  and  endured,  as  we  shall 
afterwards  find,  extreme  privations  and  sufferings. 

As  one  of  the  magistrates  was  passing  out  of  the 
session-house,  he  was  met  by  a  young  man  of  the  name 
of  George  Fox,  who  had  recently  been  convinced  of 
Friends'  principles,  and  who  had  witnessed  the  flagrant 
injustice  on  the  part  of  tiic  magistrates.  Addressing 
himself  to  the  individual  who  was  now  passing  him,  he 
■warned  him  to  repent  of  his  unjust  conduct  that  day, 
adding,  that  "  if  he  did  not,  he  could  not  escape  the 
just  judgments  of  God.*'  The  justice  immediately  took 
hold  of  him,  and  causing  him  to  be  haled  before  the 
bench,  accused  him  and  said  he  should  go  to  prison, 
unless  he  would  find  securities  to  appear  at  the  next 


G.    WHITEHEAD.  85 

sessions;  though  he  showed  no  law  which  George  Fox 
had  transgressed. 

To  prison  he  was  accordingly  sent ;  and  there  with 
his  friends  partook  of  the  same  hardships  in  the  com- 
mon gaol  for  above  twelve  months ;  for  though  at  the 
ensuing  sessions,  no  indictment  was  preferred  against 
him,  he  was  nevertheless  remanded  to  prison  to  be  left 
there  unless  he  could  find  sureties  for  his  appearance 
at  the  following  sessions;  and  when  these  arrived, 
although  no  accuser  appeared  against  him,  he  was  still 
detained  in  prison. 


"  So  arbitrary  against  us,"  says  George  Whitehead, 
"  were  our  persecutors  in  their  proceedings ;  though 
professors  both  of  Christian  religion  and  justice,  and 
professing  to  act  in  the  name  and  behalf  of  the  Lord 
Protector." 


Their  resolute  opposition  to  whatever  they  deemed 
to  be  wrong,  made  the  early  Friends  no  less  obnoxious 
to  the  keepers  of  prisons  than  to  the  magistrates  who 
committed  them.  Against  vice  and  extortion  in  every 
form  they  held  forth  a  bold  and  patient  testimony.  Pri- 
sons were  then  in  a  very  wretched  state ;  and  with 
every  alleviation,  confinement  in  them  was  a  severe 
punishment ;  but  it  was  very  highly  aggravated  by  the 
treatment  which  our  early  Friends  generally  met  with. 

Of  this  the  treatment  of  George  Whitehead  and  his 
companions  in  Edmunds-Bury  gaol,  afl?brds  a  striking 
example. 

"  After  two  of  us,"  says  he,  "  were  first  sent  to  pri- 
son, we  had  a  lodging  in  an  upper  room  for  about  two 
or  three  weeks,  and  then  understanding  that  the  gaoler 
would  exact  upon  us  for  rent,  and  expecting  our  con- 
finement might  be  of  long  continuance,  we  desired  a 
free  prison,  whereupon  we  were  turned  into  the  com- 
mon ward  among  felons ;  where,  after  continuance  a 
few  weeks,  Samuel  Duncan  in  compassion  to  us,  pri- 
vately gave  the  gaoler  some  money  to  let  us  lodge  from 

VOL.  I.  H 


86  MEMOIRS    OF 

the  felons.  But  when  the  time  for  that  money  was 
ended,  the  gaoler  insisted  upon  his  old  exaction  of  four- 
pence  a  night  from  each  of  us,  which  we  were  neither 
free  to  yield  to,  nor  to  suffer  any  of  our  friends  to  be 
charged  with ;  but  again  desired  a  free  prison :  and 
thereupon  we  were  again  turned  into  the  common 
ward.  In  the  interim,  whilst  we  lodged  above,  two 
notorious  robbers,  who  were  of  that  company  that  had 
robbed  Sir  George  Wyninif 's  house,  and  were  condemn- 
ed at  the  assizes  before,  broke  prison,  and  made  their 
escape,  leaving  their  irons  and  shackles  behind  them ; 
so  that  we  were  glad  we  were  not  present  in  the  com- 
mon ward  at  the  time,  for  they  were  desperate  fellows, 
and  made  their  escape  for  their  lives.  We  esteemed  it 
a  providence,  that  the  said  Friend  had  for  that  little 
time  procured  our  lodging  apart  from  the  felons. 

"  Although  we  were  now  settled  in  the  common  ward 
among  felons,  in  a  low  dungeon-like  place,  under  a 
market-house,  our  poor  lodging  being  upon  rye  straw, 
on  a  damp  earthen  floor,  we  were  therewith  content, 
and  the  place  was  sanctified  to  us.  But  not  being  wil- 
ling to  contribute  to  the  gaoler's  extortion,  nor  free  to 
buy  any  of  his  beer,  (he  keeping  a  taphouse,  and  divers 
of  his  prisoners  often  drunk,)  his  anger  and  rage  grew 
very  much  against  us,  after  we  were  so  many  as  five 
sent  to  prison  successively  one  after  another,  and  all  in 
the  common  ward,  drinking  only  water. 

"  That  which  he  appeared  most  enraged  against  us 
for,  was  because  we  frequently  testified  and  cried 
against,  the  foul  and  horrid  sins  of  drunkenness,  swear- 
ing, and  other  disorders  and  abuses  among  the  prisoners; 
and  which  the  gaoler's  servants  occasioned,  by  his  suf- 
fering their  excessive  drinking  of  strong  beer  for  his 
ungodly  gain. 

*'  But  the  Lord  stirred  us  up  the  more  zealously  to 
cry  aloud  against  the  wickedness  of  the  gaoler,  his  ser- 
vants, and  the  prisoners,  for  these  gross  evils ;  because 
the  gaoler  made  a  profession  of  religion  and  piety,  call- 
ing in  the  prisoners  on  first  days,  towards  evening,  to 


G.    WniTEIIEAD.  87 

instruct  them,  and  exercise  his  sort  of  devotion  among 
them.  And  because  I  told  him  of  his  hypocrisy  there- 
in, his  fruits  being  so  very  contrary,  his  daughter  was 
offended,  saying  :  '  What !  call  my  father  a  hypocrite, 
who  has  been  a  saint  forty  years  V 

"  Many  times  hath  the  said  gaoler  shamefully  abus- 
ed us  both  in  w^ords  and  actions,  whereby  his  servants, 
his  tapster  and  turnkey,  and  some  of  his  drunken  pri- 
soners, took  the  greater  encouragement  to  follow  his 
example ;  for  his  tapster  hath  often  grossly  abused  us, 
both  by  words,  furious  attempts,  and  violent  actions. 

"  The  said  tapster  not  only  threatened  us,  but  cast  a 
stone  violently,  whereby  he  hit  one,  and  in  his  rage 
took  up  a  stool  to  have  cast  at  some  of  us,  but  was 
prevented  by  one  present  taking  hold  of  it ;  and  not 
only  so,  but  was  often  slandering  and  beating  some  of 
us  on  the  faces,  and  also  violently  buffetting  with  his 
fists,  for  no  other  cause,  but  reprehending  his  and  their 
wickedness,  disorders  and  abuses. 

*'  Some  of  the  prisoners  also  have  often  abused  us,  by 
taking  away  our  food  ;  alleging  the  gaoler  gave  them 
leave  so  to  do,  and  thereby  taking  occasion  to  do  us 
mischief;  several  times  beating  some  of  us,  stoning, 
despitefully  using  us,  threatening  to  kill,  and  to  knock 
some  of  us  on  the  head. 

"  One  said  ;  '  If  he  did  kill  us,  he  should  not  be  hang- 
ed for  it ;  and  that  there  was  no  law  for  us  if  he  did 
kill  us ;'  and  being  drunk  with  the  gaoler's  strong  beer, 
he  kicked  and  wounded  some  of  us  on  the  legs,  and 
greatly  abused  us,  knowing  it  w^as  against  our  principle 
and  practice  to  tight  or  beat  him  again  ;  which  we 
could  easily  have  done,  and  the  rest  of  the  gaoler's 
drunkards  that  abused  us,  if  our  principle  would  have 
allowed,  being  five  of  us,  mostly  able  and  lively  young 
men ;  but  we  esteemed  it  greater  valour,  and  more 
Christian,  patiently  to  sufTer  such  injuries  for  Christ, 
than  to  fight  for  Him,  or  avenge  ourselves  ;  and  rather, 
when  smitten  on  one  cheek,  to  turn  the  other,  than  to 
smite  again.     The  said  drunken  prisoner  who  had  so 


88  MEMOIRS    OF 

abused  us,  when  he  was  a  little  sober,  confessed,  that 
the  gaoler  made  him  worse  than  he  would  have  been 
against  us. 

"  But  by  such  inhuman  usage,  the  gaoler  could  not 
force  our  compliance  with  his  covetous  designs  or  cor- 
rupt practices." 


Very  frequently  were  the  prisoners  struck  with  such 
violence  by  the  gaoler  or  his  agents,  that  the  blood 
gushed  from  their  mouths  and  noses ;  and  after  they 
had  been  more  than  thirty  weeks  in  prison,  the  gaoler 
demanded  of  them  fourteen  pence  a  week  each  for 
their  accommodation,  although  on  their  demanding  a 
free  prison,  soon  after  they  came  in,  he  had  taken  away 
their  bed  clothes,  their  boxes  in  which  they  had  food, 
linen,  and  other  things,  and  even  their  night  caps,  and 
had  left  them  nothing  but  straw  to  lie  upon.  As  the 
prisoners  would  not  comply  with  the  unjust  demands  of 

the  gnoler,  h©  became  otill  morp  cnrngprl  against  them  ; 

and  they  continuing  to  testify  against  the  drunkenness 
and  other  vices  which  he  suffered  and  indeed  promot- 
ed, to  secure  his  own  interest,*  he  threatened  to  lock 
them  up  in  a  low  nasty  room ;  and  soon  after  did  put 
four  of  the  prisoners,  of  whom  George  Whitehead  was 
one,  into  this  place.  There  was  also  in  a  part  of  the 
prison  a  dismal  dungeon,  into  which  with  two  of  his 
companions  he  was  let  down  by  a  ladder.  The  place 
was  about  four  yards  deep  under  ground,  very  dark, 
and  but  little  compass  at  the  bottom  ;  and  in  the  midst 
was  an  iron  grate  with  bars  above  a  foot  distance,  ex- 
tending over  a  pitor  hole,  they  knew  not  how  deep ;  "  but 
being  warned  thereof,"  says  the  author,  by  a  woman, 
who  saw  us  put  down  and  pitied  us,  we  kept  near  the 
sides  of  the  dungeon  that  we  might  not  fall  into  the 


*  It  was  the  general  practice  at  this  timefor  the  gaoler  to  sell  ale, 
wine  and  spirits  ;  and  to  derive  from  this  trade  a  great  part  of  his 
emolument.  An  act  of  parliament  in  the  24th  year  of  Geo.  II. 
prohibited  this  practice. 


G.    WHITEHEAD.  89 

pit;  and  there  we  were  detained  nearly  four  hours, 
singing  praises  to  the  Lord  our  God  in  the  sweet  enjoy- 
ment and  Hving  sense  of  his  glorious  presence ;  being 
nothing  terrified  or  dismayed  at  their  cruelties;  but 
cheerfully  resigned  in  the  will  of  the  Lord  to  suffer  for 
his  name  and  Truth's  sake,  if  they  had  left  us  to  perish 
in  that  dark,  dismal,  and  stinking  dungeon. 

"  Upon  the  same  day  that  we  were  in  the  dungeon, 
several  of  our  friends  came  to  visit  us  from  Norwich, 
Colchester,  and  other  places  ;  but  were  not  suffered  to 
come  to  us ; — and  divers  other  times  we  hcive  been  thus 
dealt  with  ;  and  not  only  so,  but  when  they  have  come 
to  the  prison  door  or  window,  they  have  had  water  cast 
upon  them,  by  some  of  the  gaoler's  company ;  he  pre- 
tending that  he  had  orders  from  the  justices,  that  none 
of  our  friends  should  come  to  us :  nevertheless  both  he 
and  his  wife  told  them,  that  if  they  would  pay  the  key- 
turner  six-pence,  or  four-pence  a  piece,  he  would  let 
them  come  to  us;  but  they  refused  to  gratify  his  cov- 
etousness." 


At  length  however,  through  the  medium  of  the 
Friends  in  London,  an  account  of  the  sufferings  of  the 
prisoners  was  laid  before  the  Protector ;  and,  in  conse- 
quence, an  order  was  given  to  have  the  matters  com- 
plained of  inquired  into.  The  examination  was  con- 
ducted by  some  neighbouring  justices,  one  of  whom 
showed  a  decided  inclination  to  the  gaoler's  cause  ;  and 
though  the  principal  charges  were  proved,  yet  this  jus- 
tice was  disposed  to  extenuate  the  conduct  of  the  gaoler, 
on  the  ground  of  their  having  reproved  him  for  his 
cruelty.  Some  of  the  justices,  however,  did  not  hesi- 
tate to  blame  the  gaoler's  conduct,  and  warned  him 
not  to  suffer  his  servants  to  abuse  the  prisoners ;  as  if 
they  did  so,  they  would  send  his  servants  to  Ipswich 
gaol.  They  also  commended  George  Whitehead's 
moderation  on  the  occasion. 

The  exposure  of  the  gaoler's  cruelty  in  these  exa- 
minations, though  it  did  not  lead  to  their  release,  had  a 

H  2 


90  MEMOIRS    OF 

considerable  influence  upon  their  treatment  during  the 
remainder  of  their  confinement;  and  their  friends  in 
London,  made  frequent  appUcation  to  Oliver  Cromwell 
for  their  liberation.  He  was  particularly  applied  to  by 
a  waiting  gentlewoman  in  his  family,  of  the  name  of 
Mary  Sanders.*  She  was  a  Friend,  and  often  availed 
herself  of  opportunities  to  remind  the  Protector  of  the 
suffering  situation  of  the  Friends  in  prison.  At  length, 
after  George  Whitehead  had  been  fifteen  months  a  pri- 
soner, an  order  was  made  by  the  Protector  and  council, 
for  the  release  of  the  Quakers  imprisoned  at  Colchester, 
Edmunds-Bury,  and  Ipswich ;  and  it  was  referred  to 
Sir  Francis  Russell  to  see  to  the  execution  of  the  order. 
Sir  Francis  appears  to  have  performed  his  task  with 
alacrity  ;  and  George  Whitehead  says : 

"  In  kindness  to  us  he  gave  us  an  order  or  warrant 
to  produce  in  our  defence,  if  there  should  be  occasion  ; 
that  we  might  travel  without  interruption,  not  confining 
us  to  go  to  our  respective  homes.  He  was  a  conside- 
rate tender  spirited  man,  and  shewed  compassion  to- 
wards us  and  our  Friends  who  were  sufferers  for  con- 
science' sake. 


George  Whitehead  considered  Sir  Francis  Russell  to 
be  decidedly  against  persecution  ;  and  going  near  his 
residence  in  the  year  1G59,  he  called  upon  him;  and 
was  entertained  with  religious  and  friendly  discourse, 
in  the  course  of  which  Sir  Francis  intimated,  that  he 
had  been  very  adverse  to  the  severity  James  Naylor 
had  met  with,  when  prosecuted  before  the  parliament 
in  1656. 

George  Whitehead  was  now  once  more  at  liberty  to 
visit  his  friends,  and  exercise  himself  in  the  vocation 
of  a  Christian  minister.  But  before  we  pursue  the 
course  of  his  narrative,  we  must  not  omit  the  commem- 

*  This  person,  and  some  other  members  of  the  Protector's  fa- 
mily, were  convinced  of  the  principles  of  Friends,  in  a  visit  paid  to 
him  by  Francis  Howgill. 


G.    WHITEHEAD.  91 

oration  which  he  makes  of  the  Lords  mercies,  to  him- 
self and  his  fellow  prisoners,  during  their  severe  im- 
prisonment in  Bury  gaol. 

"  1  am,  says  he,  *'  truly  and  humbly  thankful  to  the 
Lord  our  God,  in  remembrance  of  his  great  kindness  to 
us;  how  wonderfully  he  supported  and  comforted  us, 
through  and  overall  our  tribulations,  strait  confinement, 
and  ill  usage;  and  preserved  us  in  bodily  health,  in  the 
comfortable  enjoyment  of  his  glorious  Divine  Power 
and  Presence,  several  of  us  have  often  been  made  to 
sing  aloud  in  praise  to  his  glorious  Name ;  yea,  his  high 
praises  have  been  in  our  mouths  oftentimes,  to  the 
great  amazement  and  astonishment  of  the  malefactors 
shut  up  in  the  same  ward  with  us.  When  walking 
therein,  our  hearts  have  been  lifted  up  in  living  praise 
to  the  Lord,  often  for  several  hours  together,  with 
voices  of  melody.  O !  the  sweet  presence  and  power  of 
the  Lord  our  God!  how  precious  to  be  enjoyed  in 
prisons,  and  dungeons,  and  strait  confinements !  O  !  my 
soul !  bless  thou  the  Lord  and  for  ever  praise  his  ex- 
cellent name,  for  the  true  inward  sense  and  experience 
thou  hast  often  and  long  had,  and  still  hast  of  his  Divine 
Power,  and  unspeakable  goodness !  Glory  and  dominion 
be  to  our  God,  and  to  the  Lamb  that  sits  upon  the 
throne,  for  ever  and  ever !  Let  the  praise  be  unto  Him, 
in  whom  is  our  help,  salvation,  and  strength ! 

"  Although  we  were  confined  to  a  noisome  common 
ward,  and  strait  stinking  yard,  yet  the  Lord  by  his 
power  so  sanctified  the  confinement  to  me,  that  1  had 
great  peace,  comfort,  and  sweet  solace,  and  was  some- 
times transported  and  wrapt  up  in  spirit,  as  if  in  a 
pleasant  field,  having  the  fragrant  scent,  and  sweet 
smell  of  flowers  and  things  growing  therein,  though  I 
was  not  in  an  ecstacy  or  trance,  my  senses  being  affect- 
ed therewith ;  so  that  the  Lord  made  bitter  things 
sweet  unto  me,  and  hardships  easy ;  although  we  were 
sensible  our  persecutors  and  oppressors  were  so  cruel 
toward  us,  that  they  cared  not  if  we  had  all  perished 
in  that  gaol.     But  our  trust  and  confidence  was  in  the 


92  MEMOIRS    OF 

name  of  the  Lord  Jehovah,  in  whom  is  everlasting 
strength  and  safety :  to  whom  be  everlasting  glory, 
dominion,  and  praise,  world  without  end  ! 

"  I  humbly  hope  and  trust  in  the  Lord,  T  shall  never 
forget  his  loving- kindness  and  mercy  shown  unto  me,  in 
those  cloudy  days  of  distress  and  a/iliction." 

We  shall  now  pursue,  with  but  little  curtailment, 
George  Whitehead's  own  narrative. 

"  Before  the  winter  in  1656  was  ended,  the  Lord 
gave  me  an  opportunity  to  visit  Friends  at  London,  of 
which  before  my  imprisonment  at  Edmunds-Bury,  I 
was  prevented.  That  visit  was  very  acceptable  to 
Friends  there,  and  I  had  very  good  service  in  and 
through  the  meetings,  in  the  ministry  and  demonstra- 
tion of  the  Holy  Spirit  and  Truth  of  Christ ;  and  divers 
were  convinced  thereby,  while  I  was  among  them, 
which  was  not  long;  but  I  was  concerned  to  return  in- 
to Essex,  Suffolk,  &c.  And  having  visited  meetings  at 
Colchester,  Coggeshall,  and  other  parts  of  Essex,  as  in 
Denge  Hundred,  and  divers  parts  of  the  county,  and 
also  at  Sudbury,  and  Haverhill,  and  other  places  in 
Suffolk. 

"  A  concern  fell  upon  me  to  have  a  meeting  at  Saf- 
fron-Waldcn,  where  I  had  a  considerably  large  and 
good  meeting ;  though  toward  the  conclusion,  some 
professors  made  a  little  opposition,  but  were  soon  an- 
swered and  silenced.  Yet  notwithstanding  I  and  some 
Friends  of  Essex  being  at  an  inn  that  evening,  and  at 
supper  in  came  the  bailiff  of  the  town  with  a  constable 
or  some  officer,  and  others  with  them,  and  caused  me 
to  be  taken  away,  set  in  the  stocks,  and  there  kept  for 
some  time  in  the  night,  before  they  let  me  out ;  and 
this  without  any  law,  or  any  crime  laid  to  my  charge, 
but  only  out  of  a  peevish  humour,  and  their  own  envi- 
ous wills,  and  to  cast  causeless  contempt  upon  me  and 
my  friends.  I  wrote  to  the  bailiff  next  morning,  to 
know  if  he  had  any  matter  of  fact  against  me,  or  any 
more  to  say  to  me ;  but  he  gave  me  no  answer,  so  I 


G.    WHITEHEAD.  93 

went  away  thence  quietly  to  Cambridge,  and  parts  ad- 
jacent, and  visited  meetings  in  the  love  of  God  to  and 
fro,  in  the  counties;  taking  a  circuit  until  I  returned 
into  Essex,  to  Colchester,  &.c. 

"  I  had  a  meeting  at  Nayland  in  Suffolk,  not  far  from 
Colchester,  where  the  common  people  were  so  rude, 
that  they  would  not  sutler  the  meeting  to  be  quiet 
within  doors,  but  were  ready  in  appearance,  to  pull 
down  the  house,  which  was  but  small ;  whereupon  we 
drew  out  the  meeting  into  a  meadow  ground,  near  the 
town's  end  on  the  Essex  side.  The  meeting  was  large, 
and  1  had  a  good  and  full  opportunity  to  declare  and  de- 
monstrate the  living  Truth,  with  power  and  dominion 
given  mc  of  God  ;  whose  power  was  over  all,  and  came 
so  over  the  meeting,  that  it  was  quiet,  though  it  was 
held  for  near  three  hours  together,  and  the  season 
somewhat  cold. 

"  That  morning  before  the  meeting,  the  Friend  of 
the  house  where  it  was  nppnintorl  at  Nayland,  came  to 
me  weeping,  and  under  trouble,  poor  man  !  because 
some  wicked  fellows  of  the  town  had  threatened  to  kill 
me,  if  I  had  a  meeting  there.  1  pitied  the  man,  for 
that  he  had  let  in  such  fears  from  their  cruel  threats, 
and  told  him,  I  did  not  fear  them ;  I  was  given  up  in 
the  will  of  God,  in  whose  hands  my  life  was,  and  they 
should  do  no  more  than  he  permitted  them  :  and  1 
doubted  not  but  the  Lord  would  restrain  them ;  and 
their  envy  and  wicked  purposes ;  and  I  would  not  dis- 
appoint the  said  meeting,  nor  alter  the  appointment 
thereof.  So  I  encouraged  the  poor  Friend  against  his 
fears ;  and  the  Lord  appeared  for  me  both  in  his  ser- 
vice, and  in  my  own  and  friend's  preservation,  by  his 
divine  power ;  that  giving  us  dominion,  and  a  quiet 
meeting,  as  before  related.  Let  the  dominion,  glory 
and  praise,  be  ascribed  and  returned  to  him  for  ever  \ 

"  After  a  few  weeks  the  Lord  again  laid  a  concern 
upon  me  to  have  another  meeting  at  Nayland  aforesaid, 
which  accordingly  was  appointed  at  the  same  Friend's 
house  where  the  first  was.     But  this  second  meeting 


94  MEMOIRS  OP 

was  held  in  his  yard  or  little  orchard,  unto  which  divers 
Friends  of  Colchester,  and  other  places  in  Essex  and 
Sufiblk  came.  After  we  had  for  some  time  waited  upon 
the  Lord  in  silence,  I  was  moved  to  stand  up  on  a  stool, 
and  preach  the  everlasting  Gospel,  and  to  testify  against 
sin  and  wickedness,  against  the  beast  and  false  prophet, 
against  the  devil's  persecuting  power  and  ministry,  &c. 
After  I  had  for  a  considerable  time  declared  the  truth 
in  the  meeting,  a  person,  a  pretended  gentleman,  came 
rushing  in  with  a  constable  and  rude  company,  and  with 
violence  pulled  me  down  ;  and  some  of  them,  with  the 
constable,  had  me  to  Assington,  to  our  old  adversary, 
John  Gurden,  who  presently  began  to  threaten  me.  1 
desired  his  moderation  to  hear  me  before  he  passed 
judgment :  '  You  are  a  moderate  rogue,'  said  he.  '  Mod- 
erate rogue!'  said  I,  'such  language  doth  not  become 
a  justice  of  peace,  especially  one  professing  Christiani- 
ty.' He  in  a  great  fury  highly  threatened  me,  by  which 
1  apprehended  he  then  designed  to  lay  me  fast  in  gaol 
again,  as  he  had  caused  several  of  us  deeply  to  suffer : 
after  his  angry  threats,  he  returned  into  his  parlour, 
where  his  son  and  the  priest  of  the  parish  were  to  con- 
sult. 

"  In  the  interim  I  sat  in  his  hall,  waiting  upon  the 
Lord,  and  some  Friends  with  me ;  and  then  1  secretly 
breathed  in  spirit,  that  if  it  might  stand  with  his  will, 
he  would  not  then  permit  that  persecutor  to  send  me 
to  Bury  gaol,  where  I  and  others  had  so  lately,  and  for 
a  long  time  deeply  suffered ;  for  his  malice  ended  not  in 
that  hard  imprisonment  of  ours.  Whereupon  the  Lord 
was  pleased  to  answer  my  desire,  and  immediately  to 
show  me  that  he  should  not  send  me  to  prison,  but 
cause  me  to  suffer  by  stripes ;  whereupon  I  was  greatly 
refreshed,  strengthened,  and  given  up  in  the  will  of  the 
Lord,  patiently  to  endure  that  punishment,  the  invidi- 
ous persecutor  was  permitted  to  inflict  upon  me,  it 
being  for  Christ's  sake,  and  his  Gospel  truth  ;  wherein 
1  had  great  peace  and  strong  consolation  in  Him  for 
whose  sake  I  suffered, 


C.   WHITEHEAD.  95 

"  Being  soon  called  into  the  parlour  before  the  said 
John  Gurden,  and  his  son  Robert,  I  was  examined  by 
divers  questions,  as  of  my  name,  country,  and  reason  of 
travelling  abroad,  &c.  Unto  which  I  gave  particular 
answers,  and  plainly  told  him  and  those  present,  how 
God  would  overturn  them,  and  take  away  their  power 
who  were  persecutors  and  oppressors  of  his  servants,  or 
seed  ;  and  withal,  that  God  would  limit  him,  i.  e.  John 
Gurden,  that  he  should  not  effect  all  his  evil  designs,  or 
purposes.  Whereupon  deridingly  he  bid :  '  Go,  Quake.' 
I  said :  '  Dost  thou  then  despise  quaking?'  He  answered, 
*  Yes ;  I  do  despise  quaking.'  i  said:  *  Then  thou  despi- 
seth  that  which  the  word  of  the  Lord  hath  commanded.' 
'  How  prove  you  that  V  said  he.  *  Bring  me  a  Bible,' 
said  I :  a  Bible  being  there,  I  showed  him  Ezekiel  xii.  1 7, 
1 8.  •  Moreover  the  word  of  the  Lord  came  to  me,  saying : 
Son  of  man,  eat  thy  bread  with  quaking,  and  drink  thy 
water  with  trembling  and  with  carefulness.'  Where- 
upon he  could  not  vindicate  his  despising  quaking. 

"  His  clerk  took  part  of  my  examination  in  writing 
as  he  ordered  him,  which  being  read,  John  Gurden  re- 
quired me  to  sign  it.  I  signified  that  it  was  deficient, 
or  lamely  taken :  howbeit,  he  urged  me  to  sign  it. 
Then  I  took  pen,  and  began  to  write  my  exception 
against  the  deficiency  of  the  relation,  intending  to  sign 
the  same  at  the  bottom ;  but  John  Gurden  plucked  the 
pen  out  of  my  hand,  and  said,  1  should  write  nothing 
but  my  name,  which  I  positively  refused ;  saying,  if  he 
would  not  suffer  me  to  write  my  distinction,  he  ought 
not  to  impose  upon  me  to  sign  a  relation,  which  was  but 
in  part  true. 

'*  When  thus  treated,  and  being  ordered  to  withdraw 
into  the  hall,  John  Gurden  and  his  son  directed  the  clerk 
to  draw  up  a  warrant,  to  have  me  severely  whipped 
next  day  at  Nay  land ;  being  the  town  where  I  was 
taken  and  haled  out  of  the  meeting.  John  Gurden 
came  out  to  me  into  the  hall,  and  highly  threatened 
me  again,  having  a  law  book  in  his  hand,  which  I  took 
to  be  Dalton's  justice  of  peace,  and  there  read  some 


96  MEMOIRS  OP 

abstract  of  an  ancient  statute,  or  law,  against  vagrants, 
sturdy  beggars,  idle  and  dissolute  persons,  loiterers, 
pedlars,  tinkers,  &c.  with  the  penalties,  &c.  intimating 
to  me,  that  they  had  ordered  me  to  be  whipped  at  Nay- 
land  ;  and  if  I  came  again  into  that  country  I  should 
be  branded  in  the  shoulder  for  a  rogue ;  but  if  I  came 
the  third  time,  I  should  be  hanged.  1  answered  :  "  I 
am  no  such  person  as  thou  hast  mentioned ;  thou  art 
an  old  man,  and  going  to  thy  grave ;  thou  dost  not 
know  how  soon  the  Lord  may  put  an  end  to  thy  days, 
and  disappoint  thee  of  thy  evil  designs  against  me : 
however  1  fear  not  thy  threats ;  if  the  Lord  whom  1 
serve,  require  my  return  into  these  parts,  I  must  obey 
Him.'  '  I  know  I  am  an  old  man,'  said  he  :  '  aye,'  said 
I,  *  thou  art  old  in  iniquity  ;  it  is  high  time  for  thee  to 
repent.' 

"  1  was  called  to  hear  their  warrant  for  my  punish- 
ment read,  and  the  constable  to  have  his  charge  of  exe- 
cution given  him,  which  being  read,  Robert  Gurden 
charged  the  constable  to  see  their  warrant  executed 
upon  me  to  the  purpose,  at  his  peril.  I  told  him  1  could 
expect  no  better  from  him,  who  falsely  swore  against 
Henry  Marshall,  an  honest  man,  at  the  quarter-sessions, 
that  he  said  Christ  was  a  vagabond ;  whereupon  Henry 
was  wrongfully  fined  as  a  blasphemer,  and  kept  in 
gaol  with  us  at  Edmunds-Bury,  nigh  twelve  months ; 
his  words  being  most  grossly  perverted,  quite  contrary 
to  what  he  said  when  taken  prisoner ;  for  being  accus- 
ed for  a  vagabond  or  vagrant,  Henry  told  them  that 
Cain  was  a  vagabond,  though  he  had  a  city  upon  earth ; 
but  Christ  was  no  vagabond,  though  He  had  not  where- 
on to  lay  his  head.  How  contrary  was  this  to  the  in- 
formation given  upon  oath  against  him  at  the  sessions ! 

"  The  warrant  being  signed  and  sealed  by  the  father 
and  the  son,  I  was  returned  back  to  Nayland,  in  order 
to  endure  the  execution  thereof  the  next  day.  So  that 
night  1  lodged  at  a  public  house,  where  1  rested  quietly 
in  much  peace. 


G.    WHITEHEAD.  97 

A  COPY  OF  THE  WARRANT  AND  PASS. 

To  all  constables,  and  all  other  officers  whom  it  may 
concern,  and  to  every  of  them. 

'  Be  it  remembered,  that  one  George  Whitehead,  a 
young  man  about  twenty  years  of  age,  who  confesseth 
himself  to  have  been  born  at  Orton  in  Westmoreland, 
being  this  present  day  found  vagrant  and  wandering  at 
Nayland,  in  this  county,  contrary  to  the  laws  of  this 
nation,  and  being  thereupon  brought  before  us,  two 
justices  of  the  peace  for  this  county,  is  by  us  ordered  to 
be  openly  whipped  at  Nayland  aforesaid,  till  his  body 
be  bloody,  as  the  law  in  such  case  enjoineth.  And  he 
is  to  pass  thence  from  parish  to  parish,  by  the  officers 
thereof,  the  next  way  to  Orton  aforesaid,  before  the 
first  day  of  June  now  next  ensuing.  Dated  at  Assing- 
ton,  in  this  county  of  Suffolk,  the  first  day  of  April, 
1G57.' 

"  The  said  warrant  was  the  next  day  after  its  date, 
put  in  severe  execution  by  a  foolish  fellow,  whom  the 
constable,  &-c.  got  to  do  it.  When  the  constable  had 
stripped  me  above  the  waist,  which  he  could  not  per- 
suade myself  to  do,  but  I  let  them  act  their  own  cruelty, 
the  foolish  fellow  with  a  long  sharp  whip,  laid  on  so  vio- 
lently, that  thereby  he  cut  and  wounded  both  my  back 
and  breast  with  long  stripes,  tearing  the  skin  and  shed- 
ding blood,  till  some  people  present  cried  out  to  stop 
him ;  for  there  was  a  great  number  present,  it  being  in 
a  public  place,  like  a  market  place,  in  the  street ;  and 
many  wept  to  see  their  cruelty ;  yet  by  the  Lord's 
Power,  I  was  enabled  cheerfully  to  bear  it  all  with  pa- 
tience, great  comfort,  and  rejoicing,  even  in  the  very 
time  of  the  execution  ;  whereby  many  were  amazed 
and  smitten.  How  many  stripes  I  had,  I  do  not  well 
know,  but  remember  that  the  marks  thereof  were  to 
be  seen  a  long  time  after,  both  on  my  back  and  breast. 

"  It  is  also  very  memorable  to  me,  how  wonderfully 
the  Lord,  by  his  Divine  Power,  supported  me,  even  at 

VOL.    I.  1 


98  MEMOIRS    OF 

that  very  instant,  while  they  were  inflicting  their 
cruelty  and  punishment  upon  my  body  ;  that  even  then 
my  spirit  was  raised,  and  my  mouth  opened  to  sing  aloud 
in  praises  to  the  Lord,  my  God,  for  that  He  counted  me 
worthy  to  suffer  for  his  Name  and  Truth's  sake. 

"  When  the  hand  of  the  executioner  was  stayed  from 
beating  me,  by  the  cry  or  call  that  was  made  to  stop 
him,  1  told  the  people  that  it  was  a  proof  of  a  minister 
of  Christ,  patiently  to  endure  afllictions,  pei'secutions, 
stripes,  and  imprisonments,  according  as  the  holy  apos- 
tle testifies :  "  Approving  ourselves  as  the  ministers  of 
God  in  much  patience,  in  afflictions,  in  stripes,  in  im- 
prisonments, in  tumults,"  &c.  as  expressed  more  fully,  in 
2.  Cor.  ch.  vi.  And  withal  while  I  stood  with  my 
stripes  and  wounds  naked  before  them,  I  told  the  officers 
concerned,  that  if  they  had  any  more  to  lay  upon  me,  I 
was  ready,  and  given  up  to  suffer,  it  being  in  the  cause 
of  Christ,  for  conscience  sake.  I  may  not  forget  the 
wonderful  power,  aid,  and  comfort,  which  the  Lord  af- 
forded me  in  that  suffering  condition. 

"  The  said  execution  against  me,  and  the  solemnity 
attending  it  being  over  at  Najland,  I  took  my  horse, 
and  was  accompanied  out  of  the  town  by  the  constable 
and  others,  towards  Sudbury,  to  which  town  the  officers 
with  their  said  warrant  and  pass  attended  me. 

"  The  next  day  I  was  passed  away  from  constable  to 
constable,  through  Clare  and  Haverhill,  into  the  edge 
of  Cambridgeshire.  In  Clare,  when  the  warrant  was 
produced  to  pass  me  forward,  as  ordered,  several  per- 
sons took  great  notice  of  me,  and  seeing  me  have  a  pretty 
good  horse,  and  well  habited,  some  said,  this  young  man 
does  not  look  like  a  vagrant. 

"  In  the  edge  of  Cambridgeshire,  we  rpet  with  a  con- 
stable in  the  field,  at  the  harrow,  &c.  And  it  being 
about  nine  miles  to  another  constable,  toward  Cam- 
bridge, he  thought  it  was  too  far  for  him  to  go  with  me. 
1  said,  he  need  not  trouble  himself,  I  knew  what  way 
to  go ;  he  then  freely  delivered  me  the  warrant,  it 
drawing  toward  night :  whereupon  I  returned  alone  to 


G.  WHITEHEAD.  99 

find  some  town  where  I  might  lodge ;  so  I  rode  about 
five  miles  that  evening,  to  a  town  called  Steeple  Bum- 
sted,  as  1  remember,  in  Essex,  where  I  got  lodging  at 
an  inn  :  but  the  inn-keeper  being  drunk,  and  under- 
standing I  was  one  called  a  Quaker,  I  heard  him  say, 
I'll  kick  him  from  stile  to  stile ;  yet  the  next  morning 
being  more  sober,  when  I  paid  for  what  1  had,  he  part- 
ed friendly  with  me. 

"  Then  I  rode  to  Halstead  and  Coggeshall,  and  after 
that  to  Colchester,  and  had  divers  good  meetings  there 
and  in  those  parts,  and  at  Sudbury,  and  near  Nayland 
aforesaid ;  the  country  being  alarmed  and  aw^akened 
by  my  suffering,  the  people  weie  the  more  stirred  up 
to  come  to  meetings,  and  to  see  and  hear  the  young 
man  that  was  so  cruelly  whipped  at  Nayland  ;  and 
many  were  tenderly  affected  and  convinced,  and  the 
truth  of  our  testimony  was  the  more  spread  and  pre- 
vailed ;  so  that  tlie  dark  wrath  of  man  turned  to  the 
praise  of  God ;  and  1  had  great  joy  and  consolation  in 
Christ  Jesus,  my  Lord,  for  whom  1  was  freely  given  up 
to  suffer ;  and  He  did  powerfully  sustain  and  stand  by 
me  therein  ;  glory  to  his  Name,  and  dominion  be  to  Him 
for  ever ! 

"  I  was  the  more  deeply  concerned  in  spirit  to  travel 
and  labour  in  the  gospel  ministry  in  that  country,  and 
those  parts,  where  I  had  so  greatly  and  openly  suffer- 
ed ;  and  often  to  visit  those  eastern  counties,  being 
supported  in  spirit,  and  borne  up  above  all  the  threats 
of  branding,  hanging,  &.c.  and  above  the  envy  of  that 
cruel  persecuting  spirit,  and  made  to  despise  all  the 
shame  it  could  cast  upon  me,  by  reproach  and  con- 
tempt. 

"  In  the  forepart  of  that  summer,  in  the  year  1657, 
meeting  with  my  dear  friend  and  brother  Richard  Hub- 
berthorn,  we  travelled  together  out  of  Huntingtonshire, 
from  King's  Ripon  to  Leicester,  and  after  that  to  Co- 
ventry, Warwick,  and  Worcester,  and  visited  Friends 
in  those  places,  having  some  meetings  with  them. 
Thence  we  went  into  Gloucestershire,  where  we  met 


100  MEMOIRS,  &C. 

with  our  dear  brother,  George  Fox,  sen.  at  one  justice 
Grimes's  house,  a  few  miles  from  Gloucester,  who  with 
his  wife  and  family,  were  convinced  of  the  blessed  Truth, 
as  it  is  in  Christ  Jesus,  his  Life  and  Power.  In  the 
court  yard,  George  Fox,  &.c.  had  a  large  meeting  that 
tirst-day  we  met  him.  I  showed  the  justice,  John  Gur- 
den's  bloody  warrant  against  me,  and  the  pass  before 
mentioned ;  at  which  he  wondered,  and  was  oiFended 
at  his  cruelty,  and  minded  to  write  to  him  against  his 
persecution. 

"  The  next  day  after  the  said  meeting,  1  went  to 
Gloucester,  and  visited  those  few  Friends  then  in  that 
city ;  which  was  very  acceptable  to  them.  After  that, 
I  travelled  about  in  that  county  and  Worcestershire, 
£ind  visited  the  meetings  of  Friends  mostly  round  the 
countries,  and  in  part  of  Herefordshire  ;  the  Word  of 
Life  being  plentcously  in  my  heart  and  ministry,  en- 
abled me  by  his  Power,  largely  to  preach,  to  the  con- 
vincing, strengthening,  and  comfort  of  many  ;  although 
1  met  with  opposition  and  contention  from  some  Bap- 
tists, and  others  in  those  parts,  as  in  Gloucestershire, 
Leominster  in  Herefordshire,  and  in  the  city  and  county 
of  Worcester,  where  the  Lord  stood  by  me,  and 
strengthened  me  to  stand  against  and  over  all  the  op- 
position and  contention  which  I  met  with  ;  for  which  1 
did,  and  ever  shall,  bless  that  Divine  Power  whereby 
1  was  called  forth,  and  greatly  assisted  in  the  defence 
of  the  Gospel  of  our  Blessed  Lord  Jesus  Christ." 


(   101   ) 


SECTION  V. 

G.  Whitehead  travels  in  the  counties  of  Nottingham,  Derby,  Lei- 
cester, Warwick,  and  Stafford — And  in  tlie  winter  of  1657,  in 
Westmoreland,  Duriiam,  and  Nortliumberland— Returns  by  York 
into  the  eastern  counties — An  illness  at  Diss,  1658 — Imprisoned 
at  Ipswich — Released  on  the  death  of  Oliver  Cromwell — Meet- 
ings at  and  about  Ipswich. 

George  Wliitehead  has  given  a  pretty  long  account 
of  some  of  the  disputes  in  which  lie  was  engaged  in  the 
further  course  of  this  journey  ;  and  to  which  he  alludes 
in  the  paragraph  which  closes  the  last  section. 

The  chief  topics  which  appear  to  have  been  dis- 
cussed on  these  occasions,  were  the  Scriptures — the 
Light  within — and  the  possibility  of  perfection  in  this 
life; — but  as  these  topics  are  discussed  in  some  of  the 
subsequent  disputations  which  will  be  noticed,  w^e  shall 
now  proceed  with  the  author's  narrative  in  his  own 
M'ords. 

"  In  the  summer  of  1G57,  I  travelled  and  laboured 
much  in  the  ministry  in  the  several  counties  of  Not- 
tingham, Derb}^,  Leicester,  Warwick,  and  partly  in 
StalFordshire,  and  other  parts,  and  visited  manv  meet- 
ings in  the  love  and  good  will  of  God,  which  I  had, 
through  his  dear  Son,  received  a  true  and  living  sense 
and  experience  of,  whereby  I  was  strengthened  and 
supported  in  great  labour,  in  the  work  of  the  ministry 
of  the  Gospel ;  and  in  which  love  my  service  was  very 
acceptable  where  I  travelled  among  Friends  and  friend- 
ly people.  And  I  met  with  but  little  opposition,  dis- 
putes, or  controversies  from  adversaries,  after  those  I 
met  with  in  Gloucestershire,  Worcestershire,  and  once 
at  a  meeting  at  Leominster  in  Herefordshire  ;  and  at 
a  meeting  in  Warwickshire,  where  a  fierce  Baptist  be- 
gan a  contest  about  the  Word,  but  made  little  work  of 

1        Arf 


102  MEMOIRS    OP 

it ;  for  it  was  observable  how  impertinenUy  he  opposed 
our  asserting  Christ  to  be  the  Word  of  God  which  was 
in  the  beginning,  John  i.  1.  And  consequently  that  the 
Word  was  before  the  Scriptures  Were  written. 

"  Against  which,  the  Baptist  made  exception  from 
Christ's  parable  and  construction  thereof.  Mat.  xiii. 
4 — 19.  Mark  iv.  4 — 15.  Luke  viii.  5 — 12.  concerning 
some  seeds  which  fell  by  the  way  side,  which  the  fowls 
came  and  devoured ;  that  is,  when  any  one  heareth  the 
Word  of  the  Kingdom,  and  understandeth  it  not,  then 
Cometh  the  wicked  one,  and  catcheth  away  that  which 
was  sown  in  his  heart ;  or,  the  devil  cometh  and  tak- 
eth  away  the  Word  out  of  their  hearts,  lest  they  should 
believe  and  be  saved,  Luke  viii.  12. 

"  Hence  it  was  objected,  that  the  devil  could  not 
take  away  Christ  out  of  their  hearts,  &c.  And  what 
then  1  Neither  is  it  said  the  devil  taketh  awav  the 
Scriptures  out  of  their  hearts,  or  that  the  Scriptures 
were  sown  in  them,  or  in  those  several  sorts  of  ground. 
Parables  are  not  to  be  taken  literally,  nor  always  to  be 
strained  to  a  literal  sense.  Though  the  devil  cannot 
catch  away  Christ  out  of  men's  hearts,  he  can  catch 
away  loose  and  ignorant  hearers'  hearts  from  the  sense 
of  the  Word  preached,  when  touched  therewith,  that 
they  may  not  believe  and  be  saved ;  which  is  too  com- 
mon among  forgetful,  barren  hearers.  And  all  that  can 
be  argued  from  thence,  can  never  prove  that  the  Word 
is  not  Christ,  for  that  is  to  contradict  John  i.  1.  Or  that 
Christ  is  not  the  Word  preached,  for  that  were  to  con- 
tradict his  ministers,  who  preach  Christ  the  Living, 
Eternal  Word. 

"  I  had  sometimes  heard  of  one  Rice  Jones,  and  that 
he  was  at  first  convinced  of  the  Truth  testified  by  George 
Fox,  but  soon  turned  aside  against  him  and  Friends, 
and  gathered  a  separate  meeting,  which  some  people 
termed,  '  Proud  Quakers,'  he  making  them  believe  he 
was  divinely  inspired,  so  as  to  open  the  spiritual  sense 
of  the  Scriptures.  They  kept  their  meeting  at  the 
castle  at  Nottingham.     When  I  was  there,  I  was  con- 


G.    WHITEHEAD.  103 

cerncd  to  visit  them  at  their  meeting,  where  sitting  a 
while,  and  observing  the  manner  of  their  exercise,  and 
their  attending  to  hear  Rice  expounding  Scripture  to 
them,  and  seeing  how  dead  and  empty  their  devotion 
or  exercise  was,  I  was  moved  to  bear  a  plain  testimony 
against  their  deadness,  and  not  waiting  to  feel  the 
power  of  the  Lord  to  quicken  them  unto  his  spiritual 
worship.  And  I  had  some  discourse  with  Rice,  where- 
upon he  seemed  somewhat  down  in  his  spijit,  and  stop- 
ped from  going  on  that  time. 

'•  A  woman  present,  who  appeared  to  be  a  sober  and 
chief  hearer,  seemed  somewhat  offended  at  my  dis- 
course with  him  ;  she  said  to  me,  'I  saw  a  simplicity 
in  you  after  you  came  among  us,  but  now  the  subtilty 
is  got  up  in  you' ;  whereby  she  seemed  to  aim  at  sim- 
plicity ;  however,  my  spiritual,  living  testimony  then 
borne  among  them,  had  so  much  effect  upon  that  wo- 
man, and  some  others,  that  they  were  convinced  of  the 
Truth,  and  left  Rice  Jones  and  his  meeting,  and  came 
to  Friends,  perceiving,  though  he  had  a  form,  he  denied 
the  power  of  godliness,  and  therefore  they  might  well 
turn  away  from  such.     2  Tim.  iii.  5. 

"  And  though  the  said  Rice  came  to  some  few  of  our 
meetings  afterward,  yet  I  never  heard  that  he  came  to 
any  true  settlement  in  his  mind,  in  the  light  or  power 
of  Truth,  or  to  a  real  love  to  Friends;  for  it  is  not 
men's  professions,  or  notions  gathered  merely  from  the 
letter,  but  the  Spirit,  that  begets  true  love,  amity,  and 
unity. 

"  Having  laboured  in  the  Gospel  work  in  the  coun- 
ties and  places  before  mentioned,  and  had  divers  large 
meetings  that  summer  ;  after  a  meeting  without  doors 
at  Leicester  on  a  first-day,  I  was  taken  sick  of  a  fever, 
through  some  cold  that  had  seized  upon  me,  insomuch 
that  my  recovery  was  doubted.  When  the  distemper 
was  at  the  height,  or  thereabouts,  the  Lord  showed  me 
in  the  night  time,  that  He  would  restore  me,  and  raise 
me  up  again ;  my  work  was  not  yet  done ;  I  must  yet 
live  to  bear  testimony  against  the  covetous  priests,  &c. 


104  MKMOIRS    OP 

This  was  so  clearly  and  powerfully  revealed,  and 
shown  to  me,  that  T  was  immediately  revived  thereby  ; 
and  certainly  believed,  what  I  had  cause  before  to  ques- 
tion, that  the  Lord  would  restore  me  to  health  for  his 
name  and  work,  and  people's  sake. 

"My  health  sprung  up  so  speedily,  that  1  increased 
in  strength  every  day  ;  the  time  of  that  sickness  being 
about  two  weeks.  The  place  where  I  lay  that  time, 
was  a  town  called  Whetstone,  near  Leicester,  at  one 
Thomas  Pauley's,  or  Parley's,  who,  and  his  Wife,  were 
honest  loving  Friends. 

"  Quickly  after  my  recovery,  I  travelled  again,  in 
the  work  and  service  of  the  Lord,  through  part  of  War- 
wickshire, and  Coventry,  and  northward  as  winter  was 
approaching ;  having  several  good  meetings  in  York- 
shire ;  and  got  well  to  my  parents'  house  in  Westmore- 
land, to  whom  1  was  very  acceptable.  1  was  received 
with  great  joy  and  kindness,  having  been  above  three 
years  absent  from  them ;  and  in  that  space  of  time, 
known  to  have  suffered  great  hardships  under  persecu- 
tion ;  so  that  I  was  to  them  as  one  risen  from  the  dead  ; 
for  they  had  esteemed  me  as  one  lost,  in  a  contrary 
case  to  mine :  *  This  my  son  was  dead  and  is  alive 
again,  he  was  lost  and  is  found.'  Though  1  never  was 
a  prodigal,  yet  counted  for  one  lost,  until  the  Lord  gave 
them  a  better  understanding,  who  had  so  thought  of 
me. 

"  And  I  was,  and  am  persuaded  that  in  the  time  of 
my  three  years'  absence,  the  Lord  did  secretly  by  his 
power  remove  those  prejudicial  and  hard  thoughts,  out 
of  the  hearts  and  minds  of  my  parents  and  relations, 
which  the  priests  had  at  first  influenced  them  with, 
concerning  me  and  my  Friends,  the  people  called  Qua- 
kers. I  was,  and  am  still  fully  satisfied,  the  Lord  did 
secretly  plead  my  innocent  cause,  after  I  was  deemed 
a  miserable  object,  and  given  over  for  lost  and  undone  ; 
yet  through  all,  the  Lord  gave  me  faith  and  patience 
to  bear  all,  and  to  outlive  many  oppositions,  trials,  and 


G.  WHITEHEAD.  105 

exercises,  as  well  as  hardships ;  glory  to  his  excellent 
name  and  power  for  evermore  ! 

"  I  had  i^ood  opportunities  to  visit  Friends  a(  the  se- 
veral meetings  which  1  had  frequented,  before  I  tra- 
velled abroad  in  the  work  of  the  ministry,  at  Sedbcrgb, 
Grayrigg,  Kendal,  ilavenstondale,  and  Strickland  meet- 
ings ;  where  1  was  joyfully  received  ;  and  my  ministry, 
given  me  of  the  Lord,  was  very  acceptable,  and  to  the 
great  comfort  of  many  innocent  Friends  ;  in  whom  their 
first  love  was  fresh  and  lively,  and  which  they  retained 
to  the  end  of  their  days. 

"  I  also  rode  over  the  sands  to  Swarthmore  in  Lanca- 
shire to  judge  Fell's,  to  visit  Margaret  Fell  and  her 
family,  and  the  meeting  of  Friends  at  their  house : 
where  we  were  comforted  together  in  the  Lord,  and  in 
the  great  love  and  unity  which  our  Friends  there  and 
in  those  parts  were  then  in. 

"  I  also  visited  Friends'  meetings  through  Cumber- 
land, where  I  had  not  been  much  known  before  that 
journey ;  yet  Friends  being  very  loving  in  that  county 
also,  they  kindly  received  me  and  my  testimony,  and 
service  for  the  Lord  God,  and  his  blessed  ever-living 
Truth  ;  He  having  made  me  zealously  concerned  for 
the  promoting  and  spreading  thereof,  as  well  as  enabled 
me  to  endure  great  sulFering  and  hardships  for  the 
same. 

"In  those  days,  Friends  in  the  west  part  of  Cumber- 
land kept  their  meetings  without  doors,  at  a  place  on 
the  common,  called  Pardshaw  Cragg,  not  having  con- 
venient house  room  to  contain  the  meetings.  It  was 
very  cold,  stormy,  snowy  weather  at  one  of  the  meet- 
ings which  I  had  on  the  said  Cragg,  but  as  there  are 
several  sides  of  it  under  the  wind,  so  Friends  commonly 
met  on  the  calmest  side.  And  truly  several  good  and 
blessed  meetings  I  had  at  the  said  Pardsbaw  Cragg, 
both  in  the  winter  and  summer  ;  and  some  within  doors 
since  our  Friends  got  a  meeting-house  built  there. 

"  Likewise  our  Friends  of  Strickland  and  Sbapp,  and 
that  side   of  Westmoreland,   kept  their  meetings   for 


106  MEMOIRS    OF 

some  years,  on  the  common,  both  winter  and  summer, 
until  they  got  a  meeting  house  built  at  Great  Strick- 
land. Friends  in  those  northern  countries  were  greatly 
enabled  to  bear  the  cold,  and  all  sortsof  weather,  when 
they  had  their  meetings  on  the  commons  and  mountain- 
ous places,  for  several  years  at  first. 

"  And  when  it  has  rained  most  of  the  time,  at  some 
meetings  where  we  have  been  very  much  wet,  I  do  not 
recollect  that  ever  I  got  any  hurt  thereby  ;  the  Lord  so 
preserved  and  defended  us  by  his  Power.  Blessed  be 
his  Name,  who  did  enable  me  and  many  others  to 
stand,  and  to  bear  divers  kinds  of  storms  and  winds,  &c. 

"I  travelled  the  former  part  of  the  winter,  1657,  in 
Westmoreland,  and  also  into  the  county  of  Durham,  to 
Newcastle  and  Northumberland,  and  thoroughly  visit- 
ed the  meetings  of  Friends  in  those  parts,  and  at  Ber- 
wick-upon-Tweed ;  and  returned  back  to  that  called 
Holy  Island  by  the  sea-side,  where  the  wife  of  the 
governor  of  the  garrison  or  fort  there,  was  a  Friend ; 
Richard  Wilson,  a  Friend  of  Sunderland,  accompanying 
me  to  Berwick,  and  back  again :  we  were  kindly  re- 
ceived in  that  island,  both  by  the  governor.  Captain 
Phillipps,  and  his  wife.  And  that  evening  1  had  a 
meeting  in  the  castle,  where  the  garrison  was  kept,  in 
the  family,  and  among  the  soldiers,  who  were  civil  to 
us.  We  lodged  there  that  night,  being  kindly  enter- 
tained ;  and  the  next  morning  the  governor  sent  his 
man  with  us  to  guide  us  over  the  sands.  He  being 
then  convinced  of  the  Truth,  did  the  more  manifest  his 
kindness  to  us,  and  became  a  Friend.  And  some  time 
after,  he  and  his  wife  removed  into  Oxfordshire,  to  Ban- 
bury side ;  and  so  far  as  I  know,  both  continued  Friends 
to  the  end. 

"  In  our  return  through  Northumberland  I  declared 
the  Truth,  and  warned  the  people  in  several  towns,  to 
repentance  and  amendment  of  Ufe;  particularly  in  one 
town,  where  they  had  a  piper  playing,  and  people 
about,  him  dancing,  by  a  haystack  in  a  yard.  I  rode 
up  to  them ;  and  in  the  dread  of  the  Lord  warned  them 


G.    WHITEUEAD.  107 

to  repenlance ;  whereupon  the  piper  ceased  playing, 
and  he  and  the  people  present  heard  me  quietly,  till  I 
had  cleared  my  conscience,  and  then  parted  peaceably 
from  them.  But  few  Friends  or  meetings  were  then  in 
that  county.  And  as  we  travelled  to  Berwick  and 
back  again,  it  was  hard  for  us  to  get  lodgings  in  some 
places,  particularly  at  Alnwick,  as  we  went,  and  one 
other  place  in  our  return,  and  we  had  but  a  small 
meeting  of  Friends  at  Berwick. 

"Our  loving  Friend  John  Dove,  and  his  wife  and 
family,  at  Whittlesey,  kindly  received  me,  at  his  house; 
and  at  North  Shields,  and  Tinmoulh,  I  had  a  meeting 
at  each  place. 

"  Great  endeavours  were  used  for  us  to  have  had 
some  meetings  in  Newcastle-upon-Tyne;  but  the 
mayor  of  the  town,  influenced  by  the  priests,  would  not 
suflbr  us  to  keep  any  meeting  within  the  liberty;  though 
in  Gateside  our  Friends  had  settled  a  meeting  at  our 
beloved  Friend  Richard  LTbank's  house. 

"  The  first  meeting  we  endeavoured  to  have  in  the 
town  of  Newcastle,  was  in  a  large  room  taken  by  some 
Friends ;  William  Coatsworth  of  South  Shields,  and 
others,  being  zealously  concerned  for  the  same. 

"  The  meeting  was  not  fully  gathered,  when  the 
mayor  of  the  town  and  hisofhcers  came ;  and  by  force 
turned  us  out,  and  out  of  the  tow^n  also ;  for  the  mayor 
and  his  company  commanded  u.;,  and  went  along  with 
us,  so  far  as  the  bridge,  over  the  river  Tyne,  that  parts 
Newcastle  and  Gateside;  upon  which  bridge  there  is 
a  blue  stone,  to  which  the  mayor's  liberty  only  extends, 
which  when  we  came  to,  the  mayor  gave  his  charge 
to  each  of  us  in  these  words,  viz. 

"  I  charge  and  command  you,  in  the  name  of  his  high- 
ness the  lord  protector,  that  you  come  no  more  into 
Newcastle,  to  have  any  more  meetings  there,  at  your 
peril. 

"  On  a  First-day,  after  we  met  again  in  the  town  of 
Newcastle,  without  doors,  near  the  riverside,  where 
the  mayor's  officers  came  again,  and  haled  us  away  as 


108  MEMOIRS    OF 

before ;  and  in  Gateside  we  could  enjoy  our  meetings 
peaceably,  which  we  were  thankful  to  God  for. 

"  Being  thus  forcibly  disappointed  of  keeping  any 
meetings  in  the  town,  some  Friend  or  Friends,  agreed 
with  the  man  that  kept  the  guildhall,  or  shirehouse,  to 
sufTer  us  to  have  a  meeting  therein,  it  being  without  the 
liberty  of  the  town ;  yet,  though  the  keeper  of  the  hall 
had  agreed  for  the  price,  the  priest,  whose  name  was 
Hammond,  interposed,  to  prevent  our  meeting,  and  per- 
suaded the  said  keeper  to  break  his  word  with  our 
Friends,  and  to  keep  them  out  of  the  house  he  had 
agreed  they  should  meet  in  ;  the  priest  giving  him  half 
a  crown  to  go  back  from  his  bargain :  for  the  said 
keeper  was  constrained  to  show  the  cause  of  breach  of 
his  agreement,  in  thus  keeping  us  out  of  doors. 

"  IJeing  thus  perfidiously  disappointed  of  the  house, 
after  the  meeting  had  been  appointed,  we  were  neces- 
sitated to  keep  the  meeting  on  the  side  of  the  hill  near 
the  said  shirehouse,  that  being  also  without  the  mayor's 
liberty. 

"  However  it  was  so  ordered  of  the  Lord,  by  his 
over-ruling  power,  that  we  had  not  only  a  large  meet- 
ing and  a  great  concourse  of  people,  besides  our  own 
Friends,  but  it  was  also  kept  quiet,  and  the  spirits  of 
people  subjected  and  brought  under,  by  the  power  and 
prevalency  of  Truth,  and  Gospel  testimony,  which  the 
Lord  our  God  gave  me  strength  to  bear  in  that  meet- 
ing, in  power  and  authority  for  a  considerable  time,  as 
I  really  believe,  for  two  or  three  hours  together  ;  and 
my  voice  was  raised  to  that  degree,  that  some  said  I 
was  heard  from  off  the  side  of  the  castle-hill,  over  the 
river  Tyne,  into  Gateside. 

"  I  must  needs  say  that  day's  work  and  service  is  to 
me  very  memorable ;  and  the  fresh  remembrance  of 
the  goodness  and  power  of  the  Lord,  my  strength  and 
help  in  his  own  work  and  service,  is  still  matter  of 
comfort  to  me,  and  the  more,  in  that  I  feel  a  living 
sense  of  the  continuance  of  the  same  Divine  goodness, 
love,  and  Power  of  the  Lord  God  with  me  still,  that 


G.  wiiitHiiead.  109 

did  assist  and  help  me  through  deep  sufTerings,  trials, 
and  weighty  undertakings  in  his  service,  for  his  holy 
name  and  blessed  truth's  sake.  '  O  my  soul  bless  thou 
the  Lord,  and  let  all  that  is  within  me  praise  his  Holy 
name  ;  for  his  mercy  endures  for  ever  !' 

"  When  I  found  myself  clear  in  spirit  of  those  parts, 
I  took  my  journey  to  York,  and  forward  pretty  directly 
toward  the  isle  of  Ely,  Norfolk,  Suffolk,  and  Essex,  &c. 
where  my  service,  as  well  as  sufferings,  had  chiefly 
teen. 

"  After  great  labour  and  travel  in  many'partsof  the 
nation,  as   before  related ;  in  the  second  month  of  the 
year  1G58,  I  was  taken  sick  of  an  ague  and  fever, 
which  began  in  Essex.     Under  it  I  laboured  for  some 
days,  and  had  divers  meetings  until  I  got  into  A^orfolk, 
though  in  a  low  condition  ;  and  my  weakness  so  increas- 
ed, that  I  was  constrained  to  stay  at  a  Friend's  house 
at  Diss  for  two   or  three  weeks,  until   the  Lord   was 
pleased  to  recover  and  restore  me  by  degrees,  to  my 
health  and  strength ;  although  I  was  brought  so  very 
low  by  that  sickness,  that  my  recovery  appeared  to  be 
by  a  special  providence  of  God,  who  hath  been  pleased 
to  lengthen  out  m\^days  for  his  name  and  work's  sake: 
He  having  by  his  over-ruling  power  and  merciful  provi- 
dence all'ordcd  me  such  manifest  preservations,  that 
neither  furious  tumults,  stonings,  beating,  cruel   con- 
finements, severe  stripes,  manifold  labours,  travels,  nor 
sickness,  were  hitherto  suffered  to  shorten  my  days;  for 
the  Lord  has  prolonged  them  even  far  beyond  my  own 
expectation,  many  years  ago,  as  well  as  to  the  disap- 
pointment of  my  cruel  persecutors'  expectations  and 
desires.     Let  my  heart  and  soul  in  true  humility,  bless 
the  Lord  our  God  for  his  manifold   blessings  and  emi- 
nent preservations,  both  inward  and  outward :  Let  him 
have  the  glory  and  praise  of  all,  who  alone  is  worthy 
for  ever  more ! 

"  On  the  12th  day  of  the  fifth  month,  1658,  as  1  was 
riding  through  the  town  of  Hoxon  in  Suffolk,  and 
meeting  with  Edward  Willan,  priest  of  the  town;  I  ex- 

VOL.    I.  K 


110  MEMOIRS    OF 

horted  him  to  fear  God  and  cease  from  iniquity.  Then 
we  fell  into  some  discourse,  wherein  the  priest  accused 
me,  of  seducing  his  flock  from  the  church,  I  having  had 
a  meeting  in  the  town  the  day  before.  I  asked  the 
priest  concerning  Hoxon  steeple-house,  if  that  was  the 
church  he  spake  of?  He  affirmed,  that  it  was  the 
church.  I  demanded  of  him  to  prove  that  such  a 
house  made  of  wood  and  stone  was  the  church  of  Christ. 
He  pretended  to  prove  it  was,  from  1  Cor.  ii.  22.  '  Or 
despise  ye  the  church  of  God  V  which  no  way  proves 
the  Church  of  God  to  be  such  a  house  as  is  made  up  of 
wood  and  stone  ;  for  the  apostle  in  the  very  same  place 
distinguishes  between  their  houses  and  the  church  of 
God;  in  saying;  'What  have  ye  not  houses  to  eat 
and  drink  in  ?  Or  despise  ye  the  church  of  God  V  I 
told  the  priest,  that  the  church  of  Christ  was  built  up 
of  living  stones.  That  he  granted,  yet  stood  to  main- 
tain the  outward  house,  or  fabrick,  to  be  the  church ; 
though  he  acknowledged  that  house  was  not  built  of 
living  stones  ;  but  alleged  that  when  the  apostle  spake 
of  the  Church,  he  spake  by  a  metonymy,  i.  e.  of  the 
thing  containing,  for  the  thing  contained,  wherein  he 
wronged  the  apostle's  words  and  sense ;  for  when  the 
apostle  wrote  to  the  Church  of  Christ,  or  to  the  Church 
of  God,  he  wrote  to  them  that  were  sanctified  in  Christ, 
called  to  be  saints,  &.c.  1  Cor.  i.  2.  And  to  '  the 
Church  which  is  in  God  the  Father,  and  in  the  Lord 
Jesus  Christ,'  1  Thes.  i.  I.  This  was  to  the  sanctified 
people,  the  saints,  he  wrote,  not  to  a  house  of  wood  and 
stone." 


Whichever  had  the  best  of  the  argument,  the  power 
was  on  the  side  of  the  priest ;  and  becoming  very  an- 
gry with  his  opponent,  he  seized  the  bridle  of  his  horse, 
and  forcibly  held  him,  until,  with  the  assistance  of  some 
of  his  friends,  he  obliged  him  to  go  before  a  justice  of 
peace  in  the  neighbourhood. 

It  appears  that  during  this  transaction  George  White- 
head charged  the  priest  with  being  a  persecutor,  and 


G.    WHITEHEAD.  Ill 

this  expression  was  mainly  rclieJ  upon  in  the  charge 
brought  against  him,  when  lie  came  before  the  magis- 
trate ;  though  it  occurred  during  the  forcible  attempt 
to  take  him  there. 

George  Whitehead  maintained  that  he  had  broken 
no  law;  but  the  justice  pretending  that  a  late  act  of 
parHament  for  the  punishment  of  vagrants,  dissolute 
persons,  and  fiddlers,  "  was  made  only  for  Quakers ;" 
granted  a  mittimus  to  commit  him  to  Ipswich  gaol 
charged  with  having  reviled  the  priest.  So  hasty  were 
they  to  convey  him  to  prison,  that  they  hurried  him 
away  that  night  on  horseback ;  and  after  riding  most 
of  the  night,  he  and  his  guards  reached  Ipswich,  a  dis- 
tance of  about  twenty  miles,  a  little  after  sun-rising. 
He  soon  found  himself  in  the  common  or  felon's  gaol ; 
where,  he  says,  he  met  with  "  William  Alexander  of 
Needham,  an  honest  young  man,  and  two  other  honest 
Friends,  who  suffered  for  non-payment  of  tithes." 

Their  beds  were  of  straw;  but  the  keeper  was  more 
civil  to  them  than  the  gaolor  at  Edmundsbury  had  been 
to  George  Whitehead  and  his  companions. 

At  the  quarter  sessions  the  priest  appeared,  and 
swore  that  the  prisoner  had  reviled  the  ministry  of  the 
Word  of  God,  at  a  meeting  at  Iloxon  ;  though  he  ad- 
mitted in  court,  that  he  had  not  been  present  at  the 
meeting.  He  had  brought,  however,  another  witness 
to  declare  the  same;  and  the  jury,  as  was  usual  in 
those  days,  complying  with  the' persecuting  wishes  of 
the  priests,  brought  in  a  verdict  of  guilty.  The  par- 
ties having  sentenced  him  to  pay  a  (ine  of  twenty  shil- 
lings, which  he  could  not  conscientiously  pay,  he  was 
returned  to  the  prison,  and  was  there  detained  for  some 
weeks ;  until  Oliver  Cromwell  died,  and  his  son  Rich- 
ard was  proclaimed  Protector,  Soon  after  this  event, 
by  the  interference  of  some  of  his  friends,  he  was  libe- 
rated from  his  imprisonment;  after  having  been  con- 
fined about  sixteen  weeks. 

The  course  of  suffering  to  which  his  exertions  as  an 
itinerant  minister  of  Christ,  exposed  this  young,  active, 


112  MEMOIRS,    <kc. 

and  zealous  labourer,  appears  to  have  had  no  tendency 
to  abate  his  efforts  to  promote  what  he  believed  to  be 
THE  Truth.  After  being  released  from  his  imprison- 
ment at  Ipswich,  he  says,  he  had  *'  very  good  and  com- 
fortable sej-vice,  in  the  work  of  the  Gospel,  in  several 
places,  in  the  counties  of  Suffolk  and  Essex." 

For  a  time  after  the  change  in  the  Government,  per- 
secution appeared  suspended;  and  the  meetings  of 
Friends  were  less  frequently  disturbed ;  but  tlie  perse- 
cuting spirit  remained  :  and  notwithstanding  the  high 
profession  which  the  preshyterian  party  had  made,  of 
supporting  liberty  of  conscience,  it  was,  through  the 
whole  period  of  their  power,  evident  that  their  views  of 
liberty  were  confined  to  their  own  party  ;  and  that,  as 
George  Whitehead  expresses  it,  they  would  not  allow 
liberty  of  conscience  to  any  people  but  themselves. 

Not  many  weeks  after  his  release  from  prison,  he  at- 
tended a  meeting  at  Ipswich,  at  the  house  of  an  honest 
friend,  a  ship-master:  w^ho  with  his  wife  hadembraced 
the  despised  principles  of  the  new  Society. 

A  considerable  number  of  sober  neighbours  attended 
on  this  occasion  ;  and  it  is  said  to  have  been  a  good, 
peaceable  meeting.  But  the  enemies  of  the  Friends 
in  that  town,  envious  of  their  little  quiet,  endeavoured 
to  stir  up  persecution  against  the  ship-master :  and 
succeeded  in  inducing  a  jury  to  present  him  as  re- 
ceiving into  his  house,  countenancing,  harbouring,  and 
supporting,  divers  dissolute,  idle,  loose,  and  suspected 
persons,  disturbers  of  the  public  peace,  commonly  called 
Quakers  ;  and  as  also  keeping  disorder,  evil  rule  and 
government  in  his  house,  to  the  great  7misa7ice  of  his 
neighbours^  (St. 

George  Whitehead  and  some  of  his  friends  published 
a  paper,  in  which  they  endeavoured  to  show  the  false- 
hood and  malignity  of  these  charges ;  and  George  also 
addressed  on  the  occasion,  a  letter  of  warning  to  •'  The 
Inhabitants  of  Ipswich,  both  Teachers  and  People," 


(    113  ) 


SECTION  VI. 

Has  many  disputations  in  the  years  1658  and  1659. — Account  of 
one  at  Eninclh  on  seventeen  points — At  Cambridge,  with  the 
keeper  of  tiie  University  Library — At  Lynn,  with  the  Mooreans 
or  Universalists,  on  Christian  perfection,  Christ's  body,  &,c. — 
A  second  with  the  same  people,  succeeded  by  a  written  contro- 
versy. 

Notwithstanding  the  suffering  and  contempt  which 
attended  the  Society  at  this  period,  its  numbers  in- 
creased materially  during  the  protectorate  of  Richard 
Cromwell.  In  the  years  1658  and  1659,  there  was 
some  respite  from  open  persecution ;  but  the  exertions 
of  the  Society's  opponents  to  misrepresent  it,  did  not 
cease  ;  and  many  of  the  clergy  inveighed  severely 
against  them  from  their  pulpits.  George  Whitehead, 
in  consequence,  thought  it  right  to  request  a  public  con- 
ference, with  some  of  those  who  had  preached  against 
the  principles  which  he  was  engaged  in  advocating ; 
and  several  of  the  ministers  accepting  his  challenge, 
public  disputes  were  held  on  the  leading  points  of  dif- 
ference. These  meetings  were  numerously  attended  ; 
but  do  not  appear,  from  the  particulars  given  of  them 
by  George  Whitehead,  to  have  been  generally  satis- 
factory. He  observes  that  when  the  priests  found  the 
Friend's  arguments  too  heavy,  they  would  avail  them- 
selves of  their  influence  to  raise  a  noise  and  clamour,  to 
prevent  the  Truth  from  being  heard.  This  was  the  case 
in  a  dispute  which  George  Whitehead  and  two  of  his 
friends,  Richard  Hubberthorn  and  Samuel  Neale,  had 
with  the  minister  at  Sandwich,  in  Kent. 

A  subsequent  dispute  with  the  minister  of  Emneth, 
in  Norfolk,  appears  to  have  been  more  satisfactory. 
The  minister  in  accepting  the  challenge  which  George 
Whitehead  sent  to  him,  in  consequence  of  his  having 

K  2 


114  ME3I0IRS    OF 

preached  against  the  society,  judiciously  wrote  down 
seventeen  questions,  entibracing  all  the  topics  of  suppos- 
ed difference  of  opinion ;  and  requested  his  opponent  to 
give  a  distinct  answer  to  each  of  them,  at  the  public 
dispute.  This  George  accordingly  did  ;  and  he  states 
the  questions  and  answers  to  be  as  follows  : 

''  1.  Whether  Jesus  Christ  hath  a  body  glorified  in 
the  heavens,  distant  and  distinct  from  the  bodies  of  his 
saints  here  below  1 

"  Anszver.  Yea,  as  a  glorified  body  is  distinct  from 
natural  or  earthy  bodies,  and  heaven  from  the  earth. 

"  2.  Whether  the  blood  that  Jesus  Christ  shed  at 
Jerusalem,  is  the  blood  that  believers  are  justified  by  ? 
Or  whether  He  dies  in  men  for  their  justification  ? 

"  Aasv}tr.  Sanctification,  forgiveness  of  sins,  cleans- 
ing from  sin,  and  justification,  are  sometimes  ascribed 
to  the  blood  of  Christ,  and  to  the  Spirit  of  our  God  and 
our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  which  effects,  works,  and  mani- 
fests the  same  in  all  true  believers. 

"  But  here  are  two  questions  put  for  one ;  the  first 
appears  not  a  scriptural  or  proper  question ;  where 
does  the  Scripture  use  those  words,  viz.  the  blood  that 
Jesus  Christ  shed  ?  Seeing  it  was  by  wicked  hands  He 
was  put  to  death,  and  his  blood  shed  upon  the  cross  ? 
Yet  as  the  blood  of  Jesus  Christ  is  put  for,  or  repre- 
sents his  life  which  He  laid  down,  and  even  the  otfer- 
ing  and  sacrifice  of  Himself  at  Je'rusalem  ;  that  was  a 
most  acceptable  Sacrifice,  and  of  a  sweet  smelling  sa- 
vour to  God  for  mankind,  respecting  his  great  dignity 
and  obedience,  who  humbled  Himself  even  to  the  death 
of  the  cross ;  and  gave  Himself  a  ransom  for  all  men, 
for  a  testimony  in  due  time ;  and  his  sacrifice,  media- 
tion, and  intercession,  hath  opened  a  door  of  mercy  for 
mankind  to  enter  in  at,  through  true  repentance  to- 
ward God,  and  faith  toward  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ, 
which  are  wrought  in  man,  that  obeys  his  call  thereto, 
only  by  his  grace  and  good  spirit  unto  sanctification 
and  justification,  in  the  name  and  power  of  our  Lord 
Jesus  Christ,  who  of  God  is  made  unto  us  wisdom,  right- 


G.    MIIITEIIEAD.  115 

eousncss,  sanctification  and  redemption.  God's  great 
love  toward  mankind,  was  manifest  in  his  dear  Son  Je- 
sus Christ,  and  '  God  was  in  Christ  reconciling  the 
world  to  Himself,  not  imputing  their  trespasses  unto 
them.'  2  Cor.  v.  19. 

"  The  latter  question  of  the  second  is  groundless  and 
and  perverse  :  we  know  neither  Scripture  nor  minister 
amongst  us,  that  asserts  Christ's  dying  in  men  for  their 
justification,  but  that  once  He  died,  i.  e.  for  our  sins ; 
and  rose  again  for  our  justification  ;  and  that  He  ever 
lives  to  make  intercession  ;  and  death  has  no  more  do- 
minion over  Him.  Christ  Jesus  lives  and  reigns  for 
ever,  in  the  power  and  glory  of  the  Father,  although 
some  are  said  to  crucify  to  themselv'es  the  Lord  of  Life 
afresh,  and  to  tread  under  foot  the  Son  of  God,  which 
cannot  be  taken  properly  in  a  literal  sense ;  but  by 
their  contempt  of  Truth,  and  doing  despite  to  his  Spirit 
of  grace,  as  some  malicious  apostates  have  done  ;  not 
to  their  justification  but  condemnation. 

"  What  any  of  us,  or  among  us,  have  spoken  or  writ- 
ten of  the  Seed  or  Word,  which  the  Son  of  man,  Jesus 
Christ,  sows  in  men's  Hearts ;  and  of  the  same  being 
oppressed,  or  suffering  in  some,  or  as  being  choaked 
with  worldly  cares,  and  the  love  of  riches  in  others, 
&,c.  These,  and  many  such  like  expressions  may  have 
been  used,  according  to  the  parables  and  similitudes 
which  Christ  Jesus  himself  spake,  relating  to  the  king- 
dom of  heaven,  the  Word  or  Seed  of  life  and  grace, 
sown  by  Him  in  men's  hearts ;  and  likewise  of  griev- 
ing, vexing,  and  quenching  his  Spirit  in  them  by  their 
disobedience ;  and  yet  all  these,  never  intend  or  mean, 
that  Christ  himself  properly  dies  in  men  for  their  jus- 
tification, although  his  Spirit  be  both  grieved  and 
quenched  in  many  ;  and  many  do  lose  the  true  sense  of 
his  Living  Word  in  themselves,  by  suffering  their  soul's 
enemy  to  draw  out  their  minds  from  that  Seed,  that 
Word,  that  Light,  that  Spirit  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ 
in  them,  which  in  itself,  in  its  own  being,  never  dies. 
The  immortal  Seed,  the  immortal  Word,  is  of  an  im- 


116  MEJIOins    OF 

mortal  Being,  though  many  be  dead  thereunto,  in  their 
trespasses  and  sins. 

"  3.  Whether  this  individual  body  of  ours  shall  be 
raised  at  the  last  day  ? 

"  Answer.  This  appears  an  unscriptural,  as  well  as 
an  unlearned  and  dubious  question,  if  not  antiscriptu- 
ral :  if  he  means  this  our  natural,  identical  body  of 
flesh,  blood,  and  bones,  the  testimony  of  the  Apostle 
Paul  may  both  answer  and  refute  his  question  ;  the  re- 
surrection body  being  not  natural  but  spiritual,  not 
flesh  and  blood,  for  they  cannot  inherit  the  kingdom  of 
God.     1  Cor.  XV. 

"  And  how  is  this  earthy  body  of  ours  individual,  if 
it  may  be  divided  and  parted  into  pieces,  and  small  par- 
ticles, or  dissolved  into  dust,  or  in  the  earth,  or  in  the 
sea,  or  in  the  fire  into  smoke  or  air.  Nevertiieless  God 
giveth  a  body  as  it  pleaseth  Him,  and  to  every  seed  his 
own  body  ;  yea,  to  every  soul  its  own  proper  body. 

"  4.   VVhether  any  saints  before  death  are  sinless? 

^^  Answer.  Yea,  those  saints  whom  Christ  sanctifies, 
and  cleanseth  from  all  sin ;  as  He  doth  all  true  and 
constant  saints. 

"  5.  Whether  the  Father,  Son,  and  Holy  Ghost,  be 
three  distinct  persons,  or  subsistences  ? 

"  Answer.  We  do  not  find  them  so  termed  (i.  e.  three 
distinct  persons)  in  Holy  Scripture,  but  rather  Three 
Witnesses,  or  Three  that  bear  witness  in  Heaven,  the 
Father,  the  Word,  and  Holy  Spirit,  and  these  Three 
are  One.     1  John  v. 

•'  6.  Whether  water-baptism  be  a  Gospel  ordinance  1 

"  Answer.  No,  as  it  was  John  Baptist's  ministration, 
it  was  typical,  and  was  rather  legal,  than  a  Gospel  or- 
dinance, though  sometimes  condescended  unto  in  the 
Church's  infancy. 

"  But  if  by  water-baptism  be  meant  sprinkling  in- 
fants, that  is  no  real  baptism  nor  Gospel  ordinance,  but 
rather  rantism,  and  a  tradition  of  the  Romish  Church, 
than  any  Gospel  ordinance. 


G.    AVHITEIIEAD.  117 

«'  7.  Whether  the  Scriptures  he  the  rule  of  your  faith, 
and  life,  or  the  Spirit  ? 

"  Ansiocr.  We  do  not  find  that  the  Scriptures  call 
themselves  the  rule  of  faith  and  life,  hut  refer  us  to 
the  Holy  Spirit  to  be  our  guide  into  all  Truth,  and  they 
testifying  of  Christ,  as  He  is  the  Way  to  the  Father, 
even  the  Way,  the  Truth  and  the  Life ;  we  do  there- 
fore truly  esteem  the  Holy  Scriptures  as  a  subordinate 
rule,  or  directory,  directing  us  to  Ilim  who  is  the  prin- 
cipal, or  chief  guide,  way,  or  rule  of  faith  and  life  ;  and 
we  do  sincerely  own,  that  the  Holy  Scriptures  contain 
many  divine  rules,  precepts,  and  doctrines,  relating  to 
our  most  holy  faith  and  life. 

"  8.  Whether  children  of  darkness  have  the  Light  of 
Christ  within  them  ? 

"  j^nszver.  They  have  some  degree  of  light  from 
Christ  in  them,  though  it  shines  in  darkness,  as  a  light 
shining  in  a  dark  place,  otherwise  they  could  not  come, 
nor  be  translated  out  of  darkness;  they  must  believe  in 
the  Light,  in  order  to  become  children  of  the  Light,  and 
therefore  Christ  exhorted  ;  "  believe  -in  the  Light,  that 
ye  may  be  children  of  the  Light." 

*'  9.  Whether  that  act  be  sin  in  a  saint,  which  is  a 
sin  in  a  wicked  man  ? 

"  Answer.  The  act  of  sin,  and  every  transgression  of 
the  law  of  Christ,  is  sin  in  fact,  in  whomsoever  it  is  ;  but 
the  saints,  or  sanctified  in  Christ,  who  dwell  in  Him,  do 
not  allow,  or  sufler  sin  to  dwell  in  them,  nor  themselves 
to  commit  it ;  he  that  abides  in  Christ  sinneth  not. 

"  10.  Whether  there  be  any  moral  difTerence  in  days 
under  the  Gospel  ? 

"  Ansicer.  No,  not  as  under  the  law  in  the  observa- 
tion of  sabbaths,  which  were  a  shadow  or  sign  to  Israel, 
and  are  ended  in  Christ,  in  whom  is  the  faithful  soul's 
everlasting  rest  or  sabbath.  Yet  there  is,  and  may  be 
a  religious  or  an  occasional  dilFcrence  made  in  days 
under  the  Gospel,  as  where  a  day  is,  or  may  be  regard- 
ed unto  the  Lord;  especially  in  religious  assemblies, 


118  MEMOIRS    OF 

and  particularly  as  was,  and  is  practised  on  the  first 
day  of  the  week  among  Christians. 

"  The  Apostle  Paul  was  tender  in  this  case,  about 
one  man's  entertaining  and  regarding  one  day  above 
another,  and  another  man's  esteeming  every  day  alike, 
and  about  meats,  so  as  not  to  judge  one  another;  but 
let  every  man,  said  he,  be  fully  persuaded  in  his  own 
mind,  Rom.  xiv.  Yet  condemns  the  Jewish,  and  super- 
stitious observation  of  days,  meats,  and  drinks,  &c.  Gal. 
iv.  10,  n. 

"11.  Whether  it  be  a  duty  for  Christians  to  cele- 
brate the  Lord's  Supper  with  bread  and  wine  ? 

"  Answer.  In  this  question  he  begs  the  question ;  im- 
posing and  taking  for  granted  their  bread  and  wine  as 
ministered  by  the  priest,  to  be  the  Lord's  Supper,  which 
I  must  deny  until  proved  by  Scripture.  For  that  which 
was  properly  the  Lord's  Supper,  was  when  He  and 
his  disciples  eat  the  passover.  Luke  xx.  15.  There  is 
no  necessity  now  for  Christians  to  celebrate  that  Sup- 
per ;  for  that  was  both  celebrated  and  fulfilled  by  Christ 
himself.  And  the  passover  and  outward  bread  and 
wine,  or  cup,  were  typical  and  shadows,  fulfilled  by 
Christ  Jesus,  and  in  Him  unto  his  true  spiritual  be- 
lievers and  followers,  who  are  spiritually  partakers  of 
Christ  the  Substance,  being  come  to  receive  Him  to 
sup  with  them,  and  they  with  Him.  Rev.  iii. 

"  12.  Whether  an  outward  mission,  by  imposition  of 
hands,  with  fasting  and  prayer,  by  men  so  ordained 
themselves  to  the  work  of  the  ministry,  be  according 
to  Gospel  order? 

"  Answer.  An  outward  mission  by  these,  without  an 
inward  Divine  call,  is  not  sufficient  to  authorize  any 
one  to  be  Christ's  minister,  or  ambassador ;  neither  have 
they  any  Divine  authority  to  commission  ministers  by 
their  imposition  of  hands,  fasting,  or  prayer,  who  them- 
selves have  no  Divine  call,  nor  authority  given  them  by 
Christ  thereunto,  but  who  rather  conclude,  that  his  im- 
mediate call,  ministry,  and  prophecy  are  long  since 
ceased. 


G.    WHITEHEAD.  119 

"  13.  Whether  the  Scriptures  be  the  ordinary  means 
to  beget  faith  in  men's  hearts  ? 

*' Answer.  No,  1.  Not  without  the  help  of  the  Holy- 
Spirit  and  Light  thereof,  to  give  the  true  understand- 
ing of  them.  2.  Not  the  ordinary  means  to  beget  faith 
in  men's  hearts,  in  a  limited  or  universal  sense,  as  if 
none  might  believe  without  them ;  for  God  may  make, 
and  hath  made  use  of  other  means  than  the  Scriptures, 
as  by  preaching  the  Gospel  in  Spirit  and  power.  3.  By 
his  works  in  the  creation.  4.  Chiefly  by  the  word  of 
faith  in  men's  hearts  which  is  the  efficient  cause  of  be- 
getting and  working  faith  in  them,  being  the  faith  of 
the  operation  of  God,  and  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  the 
Author  and  Finisher  of  our  faith.  5.  Nevertheless  the 
Holy  Scriptures  being  opened  and  applied  by  the  Spirit, 
are  often  made  instrumental  to  beget  faith  in  men's 
hearts. 

"  14.  Whether  the  Scriptures  need  any  interpreta- 
tion and  reconciliation  i 

"  Answer.  Yea,  to  the  first  part,  many  Scriptures  are 
mysterious,  allegorical,  parabolical,  and  prophetical, 
and  need  to  be  interpreted  and  opened  by  the  Spirit 
from  whence  they  came  ;  but  not  by  man's  human,  or 
fleshly  wisdom,  or  private  interpretation  ;  for  the  na- 
tural man  perceiveth  not,  nor  can  he  know  the  things 
of  the  Spirit  of  God,  they  being  spiritually  discerned. 
Neither  need  the  Holy  Scriptures  reconciliation  in 
themselves ;  for  they  are  harmonious  and  do  agree,  and 
the  Scripture  cannot  be  broken. 

"  15.  Whether  the  Divine  nature  of  Jesus  Christ  be 
united  to  the  bodies  of  believers,  as  it  was  to  his  own 
personal  body  in  Judea  ? 

^''Answer.  No,  although  true  believers,  who  are 
Christ's  members,  are  spiritually  united  unto  Him,  and 
members  of  his  body,  and  made  partakers  of  his  Divine 
nature ;  yet  not  in  the  same  fulness  as  it  is  in  Him, 
who  is  the  Head,  in  whom  it  hath  pleased  the  Father, 
that  all  fulness  should  dwell. 


120  MEMOIRS    OP 

"  1 G.  Whether  the  Pope  of  Rome  be  antichrist,  and 
papacy  antichristian  ? 

"  Ansioer.  Yea,  to  both. 

"  17.  Whether  George  Whitehead  will  take  the  oath 
of  abjuration,  and  renounce  the  Pope  ? 

'■^Answer.  George  Whitehead  has  not  a  renunciation, 
or  denial  of  the  Pope  or  popery  now  to  make,  having 
never  owned  either,  but  always  utterly  denied  and  dis- 
owned both  ;  although  he  cannot  swear  to  such  renun- 
ciation, because  for  conscience  sake  he  may  not  swear 
at  all;  either  by  that  oath  of  abjuration,  i.  e.  to  re- 
nounce the  Pope,  &c.  or  by  any  other  oath,  lest  he 
should  foil  into  condemnation."     Mai.  v.  James  v.  11. 


The  answers  to  the  questions  here  given  by  George 
Whitehead,  were  of  course  but  the  heads  of  his  reply. 
G^nsiderable  discussion  took  place  upon  several  of  the 
points  ;  but  they  had  not  time  to  go  through  the  whole. 
The  people  were  attentive  and  serious;  and  the  meet- 
ing ended  quietly  and  without  any  reflections  upon  the 
new  Society. 

In  regard  to  the  precise  nature  of  Christ's  body  in 
heaven,  George  Whitehead  would  not  be  driven  from 
Scripture  expressions.  He  would  not  allow  that  the 
term  human  might  be  applied  to  it  in  its  glorified  state. 
If  the  bodies  of  the  saints  were  to  be  changed  or  fashion- 
ed like  unto  His  glorious  body,  it  was  inferable  that 
some  change*  had  taken  place  in  Christ's  body  since 
his  ascension,  as  He  was  when  on  earth  in  all  respects 
like  unto  us,  sin  excepted.^ 

Christ's  body  in  Heaven  was  certainly  not  human  in 
such  manner  as  to  require  the  appendages  of  an  earthly 
body,  as  food,  clothing,  &c.  "  Humanus,^''  says  George 
Whitehead,  "relates  io  Humus, the  ground  or  earth,  out 
of  which  the  hrst  Adam  was  taken  and  formed,  and 
therefore  that  term  was  thought  too  low  to  ascribe  to 

*  Such  a  change  is  not  incompatiblo  with  identity, 
t  Heb.  iv.  15.  ii.  16,  17. 


G.    WHITEHEAD.  121 

the  Second  Adam  or  his  glorious  body,  who  is  the  Lord 
from  heaven  ;  not  an  earthly  man  but  a  Heavenly  Man, 
morally  and  essentially,  llowbeit  could  we  have  had 
Scripture  proof  to  ascribe  human  to  the  Heavenly  Man 
Christ  Jesus  in  his  glorified  state,  it  had  decided  the 
question." 

The  priests  generally  endeavoured  to  conduct  their 
dispute  by  the  syllogistic  method,  thinking  probably  to 
confound  their  opponents,  and  mislead  vulgar  hearers 
by  the  display  of  scholastic  knowledge.  How  little  the 
use  of  arbitrary  logical  terms,  are  adapted  to  elicit 
truth,  and  how  often  they  lead  those  who  use  them  into 
absurd  conclusions,  is  sutliciently  evident  from  the  re- 
ports of  these  disputations.  The  following  account  of 
a  dispute  at  Cambridge  may  serve  as  a  specimen. 
George  Whitehead's  antagonist  was  the  keeper  of  the 
university  library,  with  whom  he  had  had  a  previous 
contest  in  the  city  of  Westminster,  at  a  meeting  for  wor- 
ship which  the  librarian  attended  ;  at  which  he  thought 
proper  to  charge  the  Friends  with  heresy. 

"  I  and  another  Friend,"  says  George  Whitehead's 
narrative,  "  went  to  the  mayor  of  Cambridge,  to  desire 
liberty  for  us  to  have  our  meeting  for  the  dispute  at  the 
guild-hall,  suspecting  Friends'  meeting-house  would  not 
contain  the  people.  The  mayor  being  a  moderate  man, 
and  his  wife  a  friend  of  ours,  after  some  consideration 
signified  to  us,  that  he  durst  not  let  us  have  the  guild- 
hall, for  fear  the  scholars  should  do  some  mischief;  but 
he  told  us,  that  if  we  met  at  our  own  meeting-house, 
which  was  over  against  Sidney -College,  he  would  send 
his  officers  to  keep  the  peace ;  which  accordingly  he 
did. 

'•  On  the  day  of  our  meeting  to  dispute,  came  our 
learned  antagonist,  Thomas  Smith,  attended  with  a 
great  company  of  scholars,  of  several  degrees,  bachelors, 
and  masters  of  art,  &c.  He  again  resumed  his  old 
charge  of  heresy  against  us,  having  had  time  to  study 
some  new  arguments  for  proof,  and  then  proceeded 
with  his  logic  and  syllogisms ;  and  I  did  not  at  all  go 

VOL.  I.  L 


122  MEMOIRS    OF 

about  to  prevent  his  essay  that  way,  being  willing  to 
watch  him,  and  see  what  work  he  would  make  of  it; 
and  thus  he  attempted  it,  viz. 

He  that  is  a  papist,  is  a  heretic  : 

But  you  are  papists,  (i.  e.  the  Quakers,) 

Ergo,  You  are  heretics. 

"  George  Whitehead.  I  deny  the  minor,  or  second 
part  of  the  argument,  that  is,  1  deny  that  we  are  pa- 
pists. 

"  Priest.  He  that  refuses  to  take  the  oath  of  abju- 
ration, is  a  papist: 

But  you  refuse  to  take  the  oath  of  abjuration, 

Ergo,  you  are  papists. 

"  George  Whitehead.  I  except  against  the  major,  or 
first  part  of  the  argument,  and  the  consequence  deduc- 
ed therefrom,  for  the  following  reasons.  Christ  hath 
commanded  us,  not  to  swear  at  all,  &.c.  Matt.  v.  34,  &c. 
And  his  apostle  James  likewise  forbids  all  swearing, 
saying :  '  Above  all  things  my  brethren,  swear  not ; 
neither  by  heaven,  neither  by  earth,  neither  by  any 
other  oath ;  but  let  your  yea  be  yea,  and  your  nay, 
nay,  lest  you  fall  into  condemnation.'  James  v.  12. 

"  Now  suppose  the  apostle  James  were  here  present, 
to  maintain  this  doctrine  against  all  swearing,  or  tak- 
ing any  oath,  he  must  refuse  the  oath  of  abjuration, 
because  it  is  an  oath  ;  he  must  obey  the  doctrine  of  his 
Lord  and  Master,  Jesus  Christ.  Then  by  this  person's 
way  of  arguing  against  me  and  the  Quakers,  he  would 
be  charged  with  being  a  papist  and  heretic.  And  thus 
the  argument  consequently  unjustly  charges,  or  reflects 
upon  Christ  and  his  holy  apostles  ;  to  which  the  priest 
could  make  no  reply,  to  clear  himself  from  the  absur- 
dity and  fallacy  of  his  argument,  and  false  charge. 

"  When  he  failed  in  his  arguments,  and  was  detected, 
some  of  the  scholars  that  stood  by,  would  say  to  him, 
*  Take  that  otf ;'  by  which  I  understood  they  meant, 
drop  that  argument,  or  let  it  fall,  or  evade  it,  and  slide 
off  to  some  other  point,  or  argument,  for  so  he  did : 
and  this  1  have  found  to  be  the  shift  and  subterfuge  of 


G.    WHITEHEAD.  123 

many  adversaries,  to  evade  a  fair  disquisition  of  the 
question,  or  point  in  hand  ;  insomuch  as  I  have  often 
called  out  upon  them,  to  keep  to  the  point  in  hand,  and 
not  to  evade,  nor  use  shifting. 

"  This  is  a  brief  account  of  the  discourse  at  that 
meeting. 

"  However,  our  dispute  was  managed  in  such  mode- 
ration, that  the  meeting  was  continued  pretty  quiet  to 
the  end,  the  scholars  being  generally  civil.  And  we 
being  sensible  the  Truth  gained  ground  at  that  meeting, 
came  off  very  easy  and  comforted  in  our  spirits. 

"  In  Cambridge,  I  had,  in  those  days,  divers  good 
meetings,  and  effectual  service  for  the  Truth ;  and  they 
generally  were  peaceable,  while  I  was  concerned  in 
them,  the  scholars  being  more  civil  towards  me  than 
we  could  expect;  for  many  of  them  would  stand  to 
hear  the  Truth  with  great  attention  :  and  I  often  felt 
the  Lord's  power  over  their  spirits  in  our  meetings ; 
though  some  time  after  I  left  them,  I  heard  that  Friends 
met  with  disturbance,  and  some  with  hard  usage  from 
some  of  the  scholars,  which  1  was  sorry  to  hear ;  it 
being  partly  occasioned  by  some  striving  with  them, 
not  in  the  wisdom  of  God,  whereby  it  appeared,  that 
the  evil  spirit  might  be  more  easily  raised  and  let 
loose  than  subdued  or  bound. 

"  Howbeit,  this  I  have  observed,  that  when  we  have, 
in  a  meeting  in  that  place,  met  with  some  opposition, 
if  it  was  by  any  person  of  understanding,  or  learning, 
that  would  deport  himself  soberly,  we  could  have  some 
fair  and  quiet  discourse,  tending  to  information,  and 
edification  ;  and  the  scholars  present  would  demean 
themselves  with  attention,  as  persons  willing  to  receive 
instruction  ;  but  if  a  vain  irreligious  person  came  into 
a  meeting  to  scoff,  deride,  or  laugh  at  us,  or  show  con- 
tempt against  our  Christian  testimony,  such  an  one 
would  raise  levity  or  laughter,  in  some  or  other  of  the 
loose  scholars,  to  their  hurt  and  shame. 

"  One  time  an  old  priest,  who  had  been  blind  from 
his  childhood,  and  some  company  with  him,  came  into 


124  MEMOIRS  OF 

our  meeting,  and  behaved  themselves  pretty  civilly ; 
the  priest  seemed  to  be  a  learned  person,  and  would 
undertake  to  question  me  about  the  Trinity  ;  as  to  my 
belief  therein.  I  answered  him  in  terms  of  Holy  Scrip- 
tures, viz.  That  I  really  own,  and  believe  the  Father, 
the  Son,  and  the  Holy  Ghost,  are  the  Three  which 
bear  record  in  heaven ;  and  these  Three  are  One,  ac- 
cording to  the  doctrine  of  John  the  evangelist.  1 
JoJm  v.  7. 

"  But  this  answer  would  not  please  the  priest ;  and 
1  would  give  him  no  other ;  I  would  not  enter  into  a 
dispute  about  three  distinct  persons,  which  the  priest 
would  have  drawn  me  into ;  1  not  being  free  in  point 
of  conscience  to  give  other  names  or  appellations  to  the 
One  True  God,  than  what  are  given  in  Holy  Scrip- 
ture, 1  did  not  esteem  it  safe  to  use  unscriptural  or 
metaphysical  terms,  on  such  a  sacred  point  as  that  of 
the  Deity,  but  to  keep  to  plain  Scripture  terms  and 
language." 

The  next  controversy  in  which  George  Whitehead 
appears  to  have  been  engaged,  was  with  a  class  of  per- 
sons who  had  risen  up  under  the  name  of  Manifeste- 
rians,  Universalists,  or  Free-willers ;  and  who  were 
called  by  some  Mooreans,  from  one  Thomas  Moor,  their 
chief  minister.  These  people  are  said  to  have  pre- 
vailed about  Lynn,  in  Norfolk,  and  the  neighbouring 
country  ;  and  many  of  them  appear  to  have  been  seri- 
ous inquirers  after  Truth.  Several  of  these  professors 
joined  the  Society  of  Friends,  which  excited  a  very 
hostile  feeling  on  the  part  of  their  leaders,  who  took 
great  pains  to  traduce  the  Society,  both  by  words  and 
writings.  John  Horn,  one  of  the  ministers  of  this  sect, 
who  was  the  parisii  priest  at  Lynn,  with  Thomas  Moor, 
junior,  son  of  the  fonnchr,  were  particularly  active  in 
their  opposition,  styling  the  Quakers  antichrists,  here- 
tics, accursed,  &c. 

In  consequence  of  these  proceedings,  George  White- 
head and  George  Fox  the  younger,  requested  a  public 


G.    AVniTEHEAD.  125 

meeting  with  them  ;  and  they  met  in  the  parish  church 
at  Lynn,  in  the  summer  of  IftoO. 

The  topics  of  discussion  were,  First,  "  The  possibi- 
Uty  of  a  sinless  state  being  attained  in  this  life,  by  true 
believers  in  Christ. 

''Secondlij.  Whether  the  Light  wherewith  Christ 
enlightenctii  every  man,  be  a  Sj)iritual  Light. 

Thinlly.  As  to  the  state  of  Christ's  body  in  hea- 


ven." 


These  were  the  points,  it  is  presumable,  on  which  the 
Mooreans  had  rested  their  charge  of  heresy,  &c.  In 
regard  to  the  two  first  points,  the  Friends,  of  course, 
maintained  the  affirmative. 

They  maintained,  that  Christ  came  "  to  destroy  the 
works  of  the  devil,  and  to  restore  and  save  man  from 
sin  and  condemnation  ;"  and  that  "  the  grace  of  God, 
in  and  through  Jesus  Christ,  was  sufficient  for  the 
blessed  attainment  of  perfect  sanctification,  persever- 
ance in  grace,  and  abiding  in  Christ." 

"  To  prove  sin  a  natural  inheritance  in  believers,  so 
long  as  they  are  here,"  their  opponents  quoted  Rom.  vii. 
17.  "It  is  no  more  I  that  do  it,  but  sin  that  dwelleth 
in  me;"  which,  it  was  replied,  did  not  prove  that  sin 
dwelt  in  the  apostle  all  his  life,  much  less  that  sin  was 
h\s  necessary  slate  so  \ox\g  as  he  lived;  '•  for  he  knew 
deliverance  :  he  was  made  free  from  sin  and  condem- 
nation, and  more  than  conqueror  through  Christ  that 
loved  him." 

The  Mooreans  allowed  a  perfection  of  sincerity 
towards  God,  and  illustrated  their  views  by  the  cha- 
racter of  Asa  king  of  Judah,  of  whom  it  was  said,  that 
"  his  heart  was  perfect  with  the  Lord  his  God  all  his 
days ;"  1  Kings  xv.  14.  although  he  appears  to  have 
been  far  from  sinless,  and  persecuted  the  honest  pro- 
phet who  was  sent  to  him  by  the  Lord,  to  reprove  him 
for  his  foolishness,  and  to  tell  him  of  the  judgments 
which  should  attend  him. 

The  Friends  considered  this  illustration  of  their  op- 
ponents' argument,  as  showing  the  low  views  which 

L  2 


126  MEMOIRS  OF 

they  took  of  the  standard  of  Christian  sanctification  or 
hoHness,  as  if  it  were  compatible  with  a  state  of  mind 
in  which  we  may  "  do  foolishly,  commit  sin,  decline  from 
the  Lord,  mid  not  rely  upon  Him  or  seek  to  Him,  in  a 
day  of  distress,  or  affliction.''^  Such  a  view,  they  con- 
tended, was  directly  opposed  to  the  Scripture  declara- 
tion, in  regard  to  the  state  of  the  new  birth,  or  of  him 
who  is  horn  of  God,  and  in  whom  his  Seed  remains.  1 
John  iii. 

The  discussion  on  the  second  point  is  reported  in  the 
following  short  paragraph. 

"  The  Light  wherewith  Christ  lighteth  every  man 
that  Cometh  into  the  world,  John  i.  9,  they  would  not 
confess  to  he  spiritual,  as  immediatejy  shining  from 
Christ  the  Divine  Word;  but  Thoma^^loor  said:  'It 
is  both  natural  and  spiritual ;'  though  they  never  could 
make  that  out,  of  that  one  and  the  same  Light  spoken 
of,  John  i.  4.  U.  It  being  the  Life  which  was  in  the 
Word,  which  was,  and  is  the  Light  of  men,  from  the 
beginning,  and  which  is  therefore  divine  and  spiritual, 
and  not  man's  natural  reason  ;  which  in  one  sense  they 
esteemed  spiritual,  .as  opposed  to  the  natural  body  ; 
but  in  another  sense,  natural  as  opposed  to  divine 
Light,  though  the  Word  be  divine." 

In  regard  to  the  third  head  of  dispute,  George  White- 
head says :  "  Because  we  owned  Christ's  body  in  His 
glorified  state  in  heaven,  to  be  a  glorious,  spiritual  body, 
and  the  resurrection  bodies  of  the  saints  to  be  not  car- 
nal but  spiritual,  they  would  insinuate  against  us,  a 
denial  of  the  body  of  Christ  in  heaven,  and  of  the  resur- 
rection ;  whereupon  we  did  not  only  confess  the  resur- 
rection and  ascension  of  Christ's  body  that  was  put  to 
death,  that  his  flesh  saw  no  corruption,  i.  e.  that  it  did 
not  corrupt,  but  rose  again  a  real  body  ;  but  we  also 
turned  some  questions  upon  them  concerning  the  body 
of  Christ  after  lie  ascended,  to  know  if  they  owned  the 
same,  to  have  been  a  spiritual,  glorious  body ;  or  in 
what  sense  they  owned  it." 


G.    WHITEHEAD.  127 

Thomas  Moor  contended  for  its  being  of  flesh  and 
bones,  but  without  blood  ;  and  suggested  that  this  was 
also  the  case  with  Adam's  body  in  his  paradisiacal  state. 
George  Whitehead  contended  generally,  that,  on  the 
authority  of  Scripture,  "Flesh  and  blood  cannot  inhe- 
rit the  kingdom  of  God ;  neither  can  corruption  inherit 
incorruption."  1  Cor.  xv.  50,  &c. — that  Christ's  body 
•was  clearly  declared  to  be  glorious — and  "  that  the 
bodies  of  the  saints,  in  the  resurrection,  shall  be  like 
unto  his  glorious  body — spiritual,  incorruptible,  equal 
to  the  angels — which  equality  is  ascribed  lo  the  sons  of 
God,  and  of  the  resurrection." 

George  Whitehead  appears  to  have  thought  this  de- 
scription of  the  glorified  body,  to  be  inconsistent  with 
the  opinion  of  its  retaining  the  character  of  flesh  and 
bones ;  but  he  would  not  presume  to  say  what  were 
its  component  parts;  and  his  opponents  admitted,  that 
they  knew  not  what  change  or  transformation  took 
place  in  the  body  of  Christ,  in  its  ascension  and  glory. 

The  observations  which  George  Whitehead  makes 
upon  this  part  of  the  controversy  are  well  worth  atten- 
tion, and  prove  that  he  was  desirous  of  fully  conform- 
ing his  views  on  the  subject,  to  the  authority  of  Holy 
Scripture. 

"  It  is  not  safe,"  he  observes,  "  for  men  to  be  busy, 
and  intruding  into  those  matters  and  things  not  seen  ; 
for  by  such  intrusion,  questions  and  critical  disputes 
arise  about  the  manner  of  the  resurrection,  how  and 
with  what  bodies,  and  in  what  form  and  manner  they 
shall  appear,  &,c.  This  is  next  to  a  denial  or  unbelief 
of  the  doctrine  of  the  resurrection  of  the  dead,  and 
tends  to  beget  questions,  doubtings,  and  unbelief  there- 
of; and  it  is  not  safe  for  the  weak  in  faith  to  be  received 
into  doubtful  disputations.  There  were  some  among 
the  Corinthians,  that  said :  '  There  is  no  resurrection 
of  the  dead ;'  1  Cor.  xv.  12.  whose  foolishness  the  apos- 
tle reprehended,  when  they  questioned  :  '  How  are  the 
dead  raised  up?  And  with  what  body  do  they  come  V 
Whom  he  answered  in  these  words :  '  Thou  fool,  that 


128  MKMOIRS    OF 

which  thou  sowest  is  not  quickened  except  it  die ;  and 
that  which  thou  sowest,  thou  sowest  not  that  body  that 
shall  be,'  &c.  ver.  35 — 37. 

Now  as  to  the  resurrection  according  to  Holy  Scrip- 
ture, we  do  not  doubt  or  question,  but  sincerely  believe 
it;  and  that  if  in  this  life  we  have  a  part  in  Christ, 
and  experience  Him  to  be  the  Resurrection  and  the 
Life  unto  us,  we  doubt  not,  but  beheve  we  shall  have 
our  own  proper  bodies,  which  shall  be  both  spiritual 
and  glorious,  '  like  unto  His  glorious  body.'  To  every 
seed  He  will  give  a  body  as  it  pleaseth  Him ;  and  there- 
fore if  we  should  be  so  nice  or  curious,  as  to  question 
God,  or  Christ,  or  his  saints,  or  ministers,  what  man- 
ner of  bodies,  and  of  what  essence  or  substance  they 
shall  be — or  how  bright,  glorious,  and  spiritual — this 
would  bespeak  a  distrust,  or  unbelief  of  a  future  state 
of  saints  in  glory,  and  of  the  divine  power,  as  well  as 
the  appointment  and  promises  of  God  and  Christ,  to 
bring  them  into  such  a  state  of  glory.  Certainly  if  the 
Lord  own  us  for  his  children,  and  sons  of  God  while  in 
this  life,  though  '  yet  it  appears  not  what  we  shall  be ; 
we  know  that  when  He  shall  appear,  we  shall  be  like 
Him  ;  for  we  shall  see  Him  as  lie  is,'  1  John  iii.  1,  2. 
And  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  dcfclared  :  '  This  is  the  will 
of  Him  that  sent  Me,  that  every  one  which  seeth  the 
Son,  and  believeth  on  Him,  may  have  everlasting  life ; 
and  1  will  raise  him  up  at  the  last  day.'  John  vi.  40.  44. 
And  '  Father,  1  will  that  they  also  whoiu  Thou  hast 
given  Me,  be  where  1  am,  that  they  may  behold  my 
glory,  which  Thou  hast  given  me,'  &.c.  John  xvii.  24. 
We  may  rest  contented  in  the  real  faith  and  earnest 
given  us,  of  these  glorious  promises  and  privileges, 
without  being  busy  with  unlearned  questions  or  per- 
verse disputings;  or  intruding  into  things  not  seen,  or 
secret  unrevealed  things  which  belong  to  God.  And  if 
any  should  question  what  manner  of  change,  or  trans- 
mutation Christ's  body  had,  after  He  arose  from  the 
dead,  or  in  his  ascension,  or  how  it  was  changed,  being 
seen  to  have  flesh  and  bones,  and  no  blood  in  it,  as  sup- 


G.    WiriTEIIEAD.  129 

posed,  when  he  was  risen  from  the  dead,  as  these  ad- 
versaries have  uncertainly  and  dubiously  suggested — 

1  should  conclude  such  busy  intruders  ought  not  to  be 
gratified  nor  answered,  but  to  be  avoided. 

"  We  may  without  doubt  believe  Christ's  body  won- 
derfully changed  and  glorified  in  his  ascension,  and  that 
Enoch,  H<:b.  xi.  5.  who  was  translated  that  he  should 
not  see  death,  was  changed  ;  also  the  prophet  Elijah, 

2  Kings  ii.  11.  when  he  was  taken  up  in  a  fiery  chariot, 
and  by  a  whirlwind  went  into  heaven  ;  whereby  was 
typified  Christ's  ascension,  he  being  an  eminent  type  of 
Christ.  We  may  without  offence,  believe  Elijah's  body 
must  be  changed  before  he  got  into  heaven,  seeing  '  flesh 
and  blood  cannot  inherit  the  kingdom  of  God,'  1  Cor. 
XV.  50.  and  yet  without  offence  conclude,  that  the  body ' 
of  Enoch,  before  he  was  translated,  and  the  body  of 
Elijah,  were  not  without  blood  in  them ;  or  else  they 
had  no  such  change  as  to  be  made  meet  for  that  king- 
dom, which  flesh  and  blood  cannot  inherit. 

'•  The  great  power  and  works  of  God  in  these  trans- 
actions and  matters,  should  rather  be  occasion  of  admi- 
ration than  of  disputation ;  as  well  as  the  resurrection 
by  the  power  of  Christ,  and  sudden  change  of  the  living 
even  '  in  a  moment,  in  the  twinkling  of  an  eye,  at  the 
last  trump  ;  for  the  trumpet  shall  sound,  and  the  dead 
shall  be  raised  incorruptible,  and  we  shall  be  changed.' 
1  Cor.  XV.  51,  52. 

"  It  is  by  the  great  and  glorious  power  of  our  Lord 
Jesus  Christ,  the  power  and  wisdom  of  God,  that  such 
a  sudden  and  wonderful  chanfire  must  be  effected,  and 


a^ 


the  dead  raised  incorruptible.  Audit  being  '  appointed 
for  men  once  to  die,  and  after  this  the  judgment ;'  and 
that  there  shall  be  '  a  resurrection  both  of  the  just  and 
unjust ;'  and  that  it  shall  go  well  with  the  righteous, 
but  ill  with  the  wicked;  I  have  always  believed  it  bet- 
ter to  labour  to  be  righteous  in  this  life,  than  to  trouble 
our  heads  and  imaginations  about  what,  or  how  we 
shall  be  in  the  life  to  come,  or  what  manner  of  bodies 
or  clothing  we  shall  have  in  heaven ;  and  to  trust  the 


130  MEMOIRS    OF 

Lord  therewith.  Our  chief  care  and  concern  should 
now  be,  to  walk  in  the  way  to  heaven,  to  get  thither 
in  the  way  of  truth  and  righteousness  and  there  we 
shall  not  want,  but  enjoy  all  things  to  complete  our  joy 
and  felicity  in  heaven  and  eternal  glory ;  even  in  the 
full  fruition  of  that  incorruptible  inheritance  which  will 
never  fade  away,  *  reserved  in  heaven  for  all  them  who 
are  kept  by  the  power  of  God  through  faith  unto  sal- 
vation.' 1  Pet.  i.  4,  5. 

"  Many  persons,  by  vain  imaginations  and  high 
thoughts,  and  intruding  into  things  not  seen  [revealed] 
and  matters  too  high  for  them,  and  their  human  wis- 
dom and  carnal  reason,  do  thereby  darken  themselves, 
and  cloud  their  understandings  from  the  true  sanctify- 
ing and  saving  knowledge  of  God,  and  mystery  of  Christ 
Jesus,  and  his  power  and  Spirit,  who  is  mighty  and 
powerful  in  Himself,  and  in  his  saints  and  members ; 
who  being  spiritually  united  to  Him,  and  thereby  made 
members  of  his  body,  are  one  body  in  Him  ;  so  that 
there  is  one  body  and  one  Spirit.  Ephes.  iv.  4. 

"  There  arc  other  persons  who  in  their  singular  opi- 
nions, strange  or  new  notions,  exalt  themselves  in  their 
own  conceits  above  all  others,  and  thereby  cause  con- 
tention, strife,  and  divisions,  many  times  either  about 
words,  critical  distinctions,  or  things  not  essential  to 
salvation,  or  to  the  saving  knowledge  of  the  true  God 
or  his  Son  Jesus  Christ ;  and  thereby  such  endeavour 
to  make  divisions  and  parties  to  themselves. 

"  When  a  person  fearing  God,  and  loving  our  Lord 
Jesus  Christ  in  sincerity  and  truth,  confesscth  a  real 
belief,  faith,  or  hope,  in  terms  of  Holy  Scripture,  it  is 
sufficient ;  whether  it  be  of  the  suflfering,  death,  resur- 
rection, or  ascension  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  into  hea- 
ven and  glory  ;  or  of  his  body  being  spiritual  and  glo- 
rious in  heaven.  And  as  the  saints,  being  spiritually 
united  to  Him,  are  his  Church  and  body  also,  and  es- 
teemed mystical  while  here  on  earth ;  so  their  low  or 
humble  body  shall  be  changed  and  fashioned  like  unto 
his  glorious  body.     And  I  would  advise  all  Friends  to 


G.    WHITEHEAD.  131 

keep  to  the  words,  terms,  language,  and  doctrine  of 
Holy  Scripture,  and  not  to  be  wheedled  or  drawn  from 
the  same,  nor  suffer  themselves  to  be  imposed  upon, 
either  with  unscriptural  terms  or  unlearned  questions, 
by  any  contentious  or  carping  adversaries  whatsoever : 
for  foolish  and  unlearned  questions,  as  well  as  profane 
and  vain  babbling,  must  be  avoided." 

"  '  Without  controversy,  great  is  the  mystery  6f  God- 
liness :  God  was  manifest  in  the  flesh,  justified  in  the 
Spirit,  seen  of  angels,  preached  unto  the  gentiles,  be- 
lieved on  in  the  world,  received  up  into  glory.'  1  Tim, 
iii.  16.  Now  this  mystery  of  Godliness,  being  a  great 
mystery  without  controversy,  it  is  best  for  professors  of 
Christianity  to  keep  out  of  controversies  and  shun  per- 
verse disputes  of  men  of  corrupt  minds,  with  all  their 
unprofitable  questions ;  and  to  turn  in  their  minds  to 
the  Light  of  Christ,  retire  to  the  simplicity  in  Him,  and 
watch  therein  to  understand  this  great  mystery  of  God- 
liness, both  with  respect  to  •  God  manifest  in  the  flesh, 
and  justified  in  Spirit.'  The  manifestation  and  power 
of  Christ  in  the  flesh,  was  excellent  in  Him;  and  there- 
in by  his  most  precious  precepts  and  doctrine,  his  won- 
derful works  and  miracles,  his  blessed  example  and  suf- 
ferings, he  declared  and  showed  forth  the  Holy  design 
of  Christianity.  And  to  be  truly  sensible  of  his  being  jus- 
tified in  Spirit,  is  very  precious,  and  arises  from  a  true, 
spiritual,  living  knowledge  and  experience  of  Christ  in 
Spirit,  and  as  known  after  the  Spirit,  and  not  after  the 
flesh,  or  any  fleshly  knowledge  of  Him ;  for  as  wisdom 
is  justified,  commended,  and  praised  of  her  children  by 
the  fruits  thereof  in  them ;  so  Christ  is  justified  and 
exalted  in  Spirit,  in  his  faithful  followers,  his  holy  ge- 
neration and  children. 

"  God  and  his  great  Power  was  wonderfully  manifest 
in  Christ  in  the  days  of  his  flesh.;  and  He  showed  divers 
signal  tokens  and  signs  of  his  Power  in  those  days ;  as 
in  his  wonderful  miracles ;  laying  down  his  life  and 
taking  it  up  again ;  in  his  transfiguration  in  the  mount, 
so  that  his  face  did  shine  as  the  sun,  &c.  Matt.  xvii.  in 


132  MEMOIKS,  &C. 

his  appearing  in  divers  forms  after  He  arose  from  the 
dead  ;  Markxv'i.  12.  and  at  sundry  times  showing  Him- 
self, and  appearing  in  the  midst  of  his  disciples,  the  door 
being  shut.  John  xx.  19.  26.  And  also  when  He  sat 
at  meat  with  them,  and  in  such  a  familiar  manner 
manifested  Himself,  that  their  eyes  were  opened  that 
they  knew  Him,  He  vanished  out  of  their  sight.  Luke 
xxiv.  30,  31.  Such  wonderful  power  He  showed  after 
He  was  risen  from  the  dead,  to  manifest  Himself,  and 
confirm  his  disciples  in  the  faith,  knowledge,  and  testi- 
mony of  his  resurrection,  as  well  as  in  his  ascension." 

Not  long  after  the  dispute  which  we  have  been  re- 
lating, George  Whitehead  had  another  in  the  chancel 
of  the  parish  church,  wdth  John  Horn,  the  minister; 
and  it  appears  that  on  both  occasions  a  large  number 
of  persons  attended,  and  behaved  with  civility.  The 
discussions  do  not  however  appear  to  have  increased 
the  satisfaction  of  the  parties  with  each  other ;  and  an 
angry  printed  controversy  ensued  in  which  the  points 
debated  between  them  were  more  fully  treated  on. 


(  133  ) 


SECTION  VII. 

Disputations  with  a  Presbyterian  minister  at  Lynn,  on  the  Scrip- 
tures, the  resurrection  of  the  body,  the  Trinity,  &.c. — with  an  In- 
dependent minister  at  Pulham,  on  the  Light  of  Christ — meets  a 
minister  in  the  steeple-house  at  Haddenham. — A  meeting  at  Pe- 
terborough— goes  to  Oaiiham — Coggeshall — BristoL 

The  opposition  which  the  Friends  and  their  cause 
met  with  at  Lynn,  so  far  from  discouraging  George 
Whitehead,  stirred  him  up  to  be  more  frequent  in  his 
visits ;  that  he  might  repel  the  misrepresentations  which 
were  cast  upon  the  cause  he  espoused  ;  and  to  prevent 
serious  enquirers  from  being  misled,  by  the  calumnies 
of  its  opponents.  He  had  considerable  meetings  with 
his  friends  and  others  at  Lynn,  and  besides  his  public 
disputes  with  the  parties  just  mentioned,  he  had  three 
public  meetings  with  a  Presbyterian  minister  of  the 
name  of  Falconer,  at  Lynn,  in  which  they  appear  to 
have  discussed  the  points  in  dispute  between  them,  in 
a  pretty  amicable  manner:  I  shall  here  only  notice  the 
first  question  that  George  Whitehead  was  called  upon 
to  answer,  which  was  "  whether  there  be  Three  Per- 
sons in  the  Godhead." 

George  Whitehead,  though  he  would  not  adopt  the 
expression  "  Three  distinct  Persons"  in  the  Deity,  as 
being  unscriptural,  makes  the  following  declaration. 

"The  Holy  Scripture  Trinity,  or  Three  thereby 
meant,  we  never  questioned,  but  believed ;  as  also  the 
unity  of  essence,  that  they  are  one  substance.  One  Di- 
vine, Infinite  Being;  and  also  we  question  not,  but  sin- 
cerely believe  the  relative  properties  of  Father,  Son, 
and  Holy  Ghost;  according  to  Holy  Scripture  testi- 
mony. Mall,  xxviii.  19.  and  that  *  these  Three  are  One.' 
1  John  V.  7." 

George  Whitehead  adds  the  following  note  upon  this 
subject ;  "  1  well  remember  in  some  conference  which 

VOL.    I.  H 


134  MEMOIRS  OF 

I  had  with  Dr.  Tennison,  Archbishop  of  Canterbury, 
our  friends  Gilbert  Latey  and  Dr.  Thomas  Lower,  pre- 
sent, the  archbishop  and  I  fell  into  some  friendly  dis- 
course about  the  Trinity  ;  as  to  their  definition  of  a 
person  ;  what  a  person  is.  1  told  the  archbishop  I  had 
discoursed  many,  especially  of  the  learned,  about  that 
point ;  and  that  upon  the  dehnition  of  a  person,  or  what 
the  word  person  means,  I  never  could  find  them  con- 
sistent, but  contradictory  to  themselves,  on  their  own 
article  of  faith  ;  as  when  they  thus  define  person,  viz. 
an  intelligent  being  ;  or  individual  substance,  of  a  ra- 
tional nature,  as  Thomas  Aquinas,  who  has  been  quoted 
against  us,  saith :  *  Persona  est  naturae  rationalis  indi- 
vidua  substantia,  quae  nee  est  pars  alterius  nee  ah  alio 
sustentalur,'  i.  e.  'A  person  is  an  individual  substance 
of  a  rational  nature,  which  is  neither  a  part  of  another, 
nor  upheld  by  another.'  I  mentioning  this  to  the  arch- 
bishop, told  him  withal,  that  to  assert  Three  Persons 
in  the  Deity,  seeing  they  are  not  Three  Beings  nor 
Three  Substances,  1  confess  I  could  never  reconcile 
with  their  being  Three  distinct  or  separate  Persons, 
and  not  Three  Substances,  but  One  Substance,  or  Be- 
ing ;  when  a  person  is  a  rational  substance  by  their  own 
account.  And  moreover  they  deem  it  blasphemy,  to 
hold  the  blessed  Trinity  to  be  three  Substances  or  three 
Beings,  for  that  were  to  make  them  three  Gods.  How 
then  are  they  three  distinct  Persons,  i.  e.  rational  Sub- 
stances 1  The  use  of  these  terms,  as  1  told  the  arch- 
bishop, I  could  never  reconcile ;  for  if  they  be  not  three 
distinct  Substances,  they  are  not  three  distinct  Persons. 
Unto  which  he  ingeniously  answered :  '  It  is  safest  or 
best  to  keep  to  Scripture  words  or  terms,  in  expressing 
such  weighty  n»attersof  faith  concerning  the  Deity,  and 
not  to  express  them  in  metaphysical  terms  of  philoso- 
phy, or  the  like,  which  are  not  in  Holy  Scripture.'  And 
truly  I  was  glad  when  1  heard  such  a  honest  confes- 
sion from  him." 


In  the  year  1654  George  Whitehead  believed  it  his 


G.  WHITEHEAD.  135 

religious  duty  to  visit  the  city  of  Norwich  and  county 
of  Norwich;  and  county  of  Norfolk  ;  and,  in  the  course 
of  his  journey  hearing  of  a  noted  preacher  among  the 
Indcpendants,  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Pulham,  and 
that  he  was  to  preach  at  Diss,  George  Whitehead,  ac- 
companied by  Jlobert  Duncan,  went  to  the  place  ;  and 
havingheard  all  thatthepreacherhad  to  deliver,  George 
Whitehead  called  to  him  and  said :  "  Thou  art  weighed 
and  found  too  light,"  &lc.  It  is  not  surprising,  after 
this  address,  that  George  was  speedily  pushed  out  of 
the  house ;  but  getting  on  to  a  tomb,  he  preached  to  the 
people,  pointing  out  "  the  barrenness  and  fruitlessness 
of  the  people  under  such  ministers,"  &.c.  The  people 
heard  him  quietly  for  a  considerable  time  ;  yet  on  his 
concluding,  some  were  for  putting  him  into  the  stocks, 
but  others  prevented  it ;  and  he  was  permitted  to  pro- 
ceed quietly  on  his  journey. 

George  Whitehead  appears  to  have  reverted  to  his 
visit  in  the  year  1C54,  in  order  to  introduce  some  par- 
ticulars of  a  public  dispute  \vith  the  same  Independent 
minister,  in  the  8th  month  1659,  and  which  in  point 
of  time  falls  in  this  part  of  his  narrative.  From  the 
account  of  this  dispute  I  take  the  following  extract. 

"  The  first  question  propounded  to  Thomas  Benton, 
the  preacher  alluded  to,  to  be  discoursed  on  was  :  Whe- 
ther every  man  in  the  world  is  enlightened  with  a  spirit- 
ual Light,  yea,  or  nay  ? 

"  His  answer  was,  That  he  denied  that  every  man  is 
enlightened  with  a  spiritual  Light,  but  with  a  natural 
light,  as  the  light  of  reason,  creation  light,  or  the  like  ; 
yet  he  confessed  that  every  man  is  enlightened  by  Christ 
as  a  Creator,  but  not  as  a  mediator. 

"  Herein  his  inconsistency  was  apparent :  for,  if  eve- 
ry man  be  enlightened  by  Christ  as  Creator,  then  is 
every  man  enlightened  with  a  spiritual,  Divine  light ; 
for  as  Christ  is  Creator,  He  is  a  Divine,  spiritual  light, 
and  the  Fountain  of  Light ;  for  God  is  a  Spirit  and 
Light  also,  in  whom  is  no  darkness  at  all. 

♦<  But  to  render  the  Light  of  the  Creator  natural  or 


136  MEMOIRS  or 

natural  reason,  and  the  Light  of  Christ  spiritual,  is  not 
only  to  divide  the  Light,  which  is  one,  but  to  set  the 
hght  of  the  Mediator  above  the  Light  of  the  Creator. 

"  John  the  evangelist  testified  of  Christ  the  Word, 
'  That  was  with  God,  and  was  God  ;  that  He  was  the 
True  Light,  which  enlightens  every  man  coming  into 
the  world  ;  and  that  in  llim  was  Life,  and  the  Life  was 
the  Light  of  men.'t/o/in  i.  4.  9.  This  life  of  the  Eternal 
Word,  is  above  any  natural  light  or  natural  reason,  for 
it  is  a  Divine  Principle  of  Life  and  Light. 

"  And  '  God  who  commanded  JJght  to  shine  out  of 
darkness,  hath  shined  in  our  hearts ;'  for  what  end  ? 
but '  to  give  us  the  Light  of  the  knowledge  of  the  glory 
of  God,  in  the  face  of  Jesus  Christ !'  2  Cor.  iv.  There- 
fore before  we  have  that  knowledge  or  degree  of  Light 
given,  God  shines  in  our  hearts  to  give  it  unto  us  :  and 
still  it  is  the  Light  and  glory  of  one  and  the  same  God 
and  Christ  Jesus,  gradually  revealed  and  made  know 
in  us. 

"  And  likewise  what  power,  glory.  Spirit,  life,  light, 
and  wisdom,  the  Son  hath  to  give  or  impart  unto  men, 
especially  unto  true  believei's,  his  followers,  it  is  all 
first  given  to  Him  of  the  Father.  He  '  received  gifts 
for  men  ;  yea,  for  the  rebellious  also,  that  the  Lord 
God  might  dwell  among  them.'  Psalm  Ixviii.  18.  Of 
whom  did  He  receive  them  but  of  his  Heavenly  Father  ? 

"  As  our  Heavenly  Father  and  his  dear  Son  are  not 
divided,  no  more  is  their  Light;  it  is  one  individual 
Light  and  Life  ;  the  Fulness  whereof  dwells  in  Christ 
the  Son  of  the  Living  God,  in  whom  '  it  pleased  the 
Father,  that  all  Fulness  should  dwell ;'  Col.  i.  19.  and 
'  to  give  all  power  in  heaven  and  earth  unto  Him ;' 
Matt,  xxviii.  18.  although  '  unto  every  one  of  us  is  given 
Grace  according  to  the  measure  of  the  gift  of  Christ.' 
Eph.  iv.  7.  He  who  received  the  Spirit  not  by  mea- 
sure, but  in  immensity  or  immense  Fulness,  gives  to  us 
by  measure,  and  the  knowledge  thereof  gradually,  if 
we  be  sincerely  obedient  to  his  gift. 


O.    WHITEHEAD.  137 

"The  said  Thomas  Benton  also  affirmed,  that  if 
those  gentiles  mentioned,  Rom.  ii.  14.  had  improved 
that  Light  to  the  utmost  which  they  had,  it  had  not 
beensuffici(Mit  for  them  unto  salvation. 

"  This  still  is  relative  to  his  mistaken  notion,  that  they 
had  only  a  light  from  God  the  Creator,  but  not  from 
Christ  the  Mediator,  which  appears  contrary  to  the 
text,  Rom.  ii.  13,  14,  15.  For  both  Jews  and  gentiles, 
were  all  to  be  judged,  even  the  secrets  of  men  without 
exception,  by  Jesus  Christ,  according  to  the  Gospel. 
ver.  16.  But  if  they  should  be  judged  and  condenmed, 
either  because  they  had  not  a  sufficient  light  given 
them  of  God  to  save  them,  or  no  gospel  Light  by  Jesus 
Christ  to  improve  unto  salvation;  this  were  to  render 
God  and  Christ  both  unmerciful  and  unjust  Judges. 
What !  judge  and  condemn  men  for  not  improving,  or 
not  obeying  a  Light,  Law,  or  Gospel,  they  never  had, 
nor  might  have,  if  not  given  unto  them  !  Or  when  they 
made  the  best  improvement  they  could  of  that  light 
given  unto  them  ;  yet  for  all  this,  to  fall  short  of  salva- 
tion, and  consequently  to  be  judged  unto  condemnation. 
Oh!  unmerciful  and  cruel,  and  contrary  to  common 
justice  among  men  ;  and  surely  such  doctrine  cannot 
be  according  to  the  Gospel  of  the  free  Grace  of  God  in 
Christ  Jesus ;  but  rather  agreeable  to  the  partial  nar- 
row notion  of  Fredestinarians,  and  such  as  would  by 
their  doctrine  limit  and  confine  the  Grace  and  love  of 
God,  only  to  a  small  select  number  of  mankind  ! 

"  Such  partial  opinion  is  manifestly  repugnant  to  the 
free  and  universal  love  of  God  ;  with  whose  great  love 
his  dear  Son  Jesus  Christ  was  so  fully  replenished,  that 
He  was  well  called  the  Son  of  his  love ;  which  He  hath 
so  freely  and  universally  extended  unto  the  world,  ac- 
cording to  the  good  will  of  his  Heavenly  Father,  in  all 
the  good  He  hath  done  and  given  to  the  children  of  men  ; 
and  therefore  the  love  of  Christ  testified  of  in  Holy 
Scripture,  is  truly  the  love  of  God  in  Him  to  us  all. 

"  And  if  God  •  spared  not  his  own  Son,  but  delivered 

2  M 


138  MKM01R3    OF 

Him  up  for  us  all ;  how  shall  lie  not  with  Him  also, 
freely  give  us  all  things  !'  Rom.  viii.  32. 

"  Jesus  Christ  showed  his  own  and  Heavenly  Father's 
great  love  to  all  men,  as  He  is  the  Light  of  the  world, 
and  given  for  a  light  unto  the  gentiles,  and  to  be  God's 
Salvation  to  the  ends  of  the  earth;  and  also  in  His  dy- 
ing for  all  men  ;  by  the  grace  of  God  tasting  death  for 
every  man  ;  giving  Himself  a  ransom  for  all  men,  and  in 
making  intercession  both  for  transgressors  and  for  the 
saints  :  also,  according  to  the  will  of  God,  He  appears 
in  the  Presence  of  God  for  us,  even  in  heaven  itself; 
and  also  by  his  Holy  Spirit  in  all  true  believers  :  His 
Spirit  maketh intercession,  helpeth  ourintirmities,  moves 
and  assists  us  in  prayer.  They  who  arc  sons  of  God, 
are  sensible  that  '  He  hath  sent  forth  the  Spirit  of  his 
Son  into  their  hearts,  crying  Abba,  Father  !'  Gal.  iv.  6. 

"  The  humility,  mercy,  and  condescension  of  Jesus 
Christ,  our  Blessed  Mediator,  are  such,  that  He  is  touch- 
with  the  feeling  of  our  intirmities,  weaknesses,  and 
temptations,  and  ready  to  succour,  help,  and  relieve 
all  them  that  are  tempted,  even  by  his  Grace  and  good 
Spirit,  in  their  drawing  near  to  the  throne  of  his  Mercy 
and  Grace. 

"O  faithful  Creator!  O  King  of  saints!  O  merciful 
High  Priest !  O  compassionate  Mediator  !  Let  thy  Light 
and  thy  Truth  shine  forth  more  and  more,  to  the  glory 
of  thy  great  and  excellent  name  and  power,  and  expel 
the  great  darkness  of  apostacy,  that  has  covered  many 
nations  and  professions  of  Christianity,  and  greatly  ap- 
peared in  these  latter  times  against  thy  Light,  thy 
Truth,  and  people,  whom  (hou  hast  called  and  deliver- 
ed out  of  darkness,  into  thy  marvellous  Light.  Glory 
and  dominion  be  to  thy  great  Name  and  power,  for  ever 
and  ever ! 

"  To  return  to  the  matter  in  controversy :  my  oppo- 
ser  Thomas  Benton  affirmed,  that  it  was  a  corrupt  na- 
ture by  which  those  gentiles,  mentioned  Rom.  ii.  14.  did 
those  things  contained  in  the  law,  which  he  confessed 
was  the  moral  law,  or  ten  commandments. 


O.    WUITEHEAD.  139 

**  Herein  (he  man  was  as  far  out  as  in  the  rest  of 
his  mistakes :  for  who  can  bring  a  clean  thing  out  of 
an  unclean  ?  Do  men  gather  grapes  of  thorns'?  Or  can 
an  evil  tree  bring  forth  good  fruit?  No  surely  !  no  more 
could  those  gentiles  by  a  corrupt,  unsanctilied  nature, 
do  those  things  contained  in  the  righteous  Law  of  God  ; 
which  requires  sincere  and  entire  love  to  llim,  and  true 
love  to  our  neighbours  as  to  ourselves. 

"  Other  errors  were  at  that  dispute  committed  by 
the  said  Thomas  Benton,  as,  thai  those  mentioned,  Rom. 
i.  20.  saw  the  invisible  things  of  God  by  a  natural  light; 
and  that  natural  men  mi>fht  clearly  see  the  Eternal 
Power  of  God  as  a  Creator,  but  not  Christ  as  a  Media- 
tor. 

"  Herein  his  mistake  is  notorious  ;  for  the  invisible 
things  of  God  there  mentior)ed,  are  his  Eternal  Power 
and  Deity  or  Godhead;  and  they  who  understood  and 
saw  them  from  the  creation,  were  of  those  gentiles  who 
knew  God,  and  yet  liked  not  to  retain  Him  in  their 
knowledge ;  but  became  vain  in  their  imaginations, 
whereby  their  foolish  hearts  became  darkened  ;  and  so 
they  became  miserable  apostates:  howbeit,  thesightand 
knowledge  they  sometimes  had  of  God  and  his  Eternal 
Power,  was  not  by  a  natural  light  or  knowledge  ;  but 
by  a  spiritual  Divine  Light  given  them  of  God;  and 
their  knowledge  they  had  of  God,  and  their  understand- 
ing and  sight  of  his  invisible  things,  originally  sprang 
from  a  divine  principle  in  them  ;  seeing  that  which 
might  be  known  of  God,  was  manifest  in  them  ;  for  it 
was  God  that  showed  the  same  unto  them.  Rom.  i. 
Insomuch  that  they  themselves  were  without  excuse, 
in  their  declension  from  the  same  :  for  it  is  plain,  that 
'  the  natural  man,  neither  recciveth,  nor  can  know  the 
things  of  the  Spirit  of  God,  they  being  spiritually  dis- 
cerned.' 1  Cor.  ii.  14. 

"  Men  must  be  changed  ;  they  must  be  renewed  in 
the  spirit  of  their  minds,  in  some  measure,  betbre  they 
can  clearly  see  or  know  the  invisible  things  of  God,  or 
of  his  Spirit ;  for  it  is  not  by  the  spirit  of  this  world,  nor 


140  MEMOIRS    OF 

by  the  wisdom  thereof,  nor  yet  by  any  merely  natural 
light,  that  those  things  of  God,  are  made  known  unto 
us,  but  by  the  Spirit  which  is  of  God.  1  Cor.  ii.  This 
Spirit  being  obeyed,  we  follow  God's  teachings  and 
drawings,  and  shall  not  fall  short  of  the  knowledge  of 
Christ  our  Mediator,  nor  be  deprived  of  t"he  great  bene- 
fit or  fruit  of  his  mediation;  who  said,  that,  every  man 
that  hath  heard  and  learned  of  the  Father,  cometh  un- 
to Me.  John  vi.  45.  And  Christ  Jesus  the  Son  of  God, 
being  the  Way  to  the  Father,  no  man  cometh  unto  the 
Father  but  by  Him." 

The  dispute  ended  peaceably ;  and  there  was  sub- 
sequently a  considerable  addition  to  the  Society  in 
those  parts. 

The  next  public  dispute  in  which  George  Whitehead 
was  engaged,  was  with  a  minister  of  Bluntisham  and 
Earith,  in  Huntingdonshire  ;  but  the  meeting  was  held 
at  Haddenham,  in  the  Isle  of  Ely,  in  Cambridgeshire. 
It  appears  to  have  been  chiefly  on  one  side,  the  minis- 
ter occupying  most  of  the  time  in  reviling  the  Quakers, 
without  allowing  his  antagonist  to  reply.  The  people 
repeatedly  called  out  to  their  pastor  to  allow  George  to 
be  heard,  and  the  priest  at  lengtlj  leaving  the  assem- 
bly, George  Whitehead  says :  "  I  had  a  very  good  op- 
portunity to  declare  and  demonstrate  the  Truth,  and 
preach  the  Gospel  to  the  peo])le ;  and  v^'hen  I  had 
thereby  cleared  my  conscience,  I  gave  them  public  no- 
tice of  a  meeting  I  intended,  if  the  Lord  pleased,  to 
have  the  next  day  at  the  same  town.  So  we  all  went 
peaceably  out  of  their  steeple-house ;  and  the  next  day, 
according  to  appointment,  we  had  a  very  good  and 
serviceable  meeting,  to  which  divers  men  of  account 
came." 

The  narrative  of  George  Whitehead  proceeds  as 
follows : — 

"  After  1  had  travelled  and  laboured  some  time  in 
the  work  of  the  Gospel,  in  Cambridgeshire,  Hunting- 
donshire, the  Isle  of  Ely,  and  some  parts  of  Lincoln- 


a.  WIIITKHBAD. 


141 


shire,  as  that  called  Holland,  &.C.,  as  also  in  some  parts 
of  Northamptonshire,  1  was  much  pressed  in  spirit,  to 
endeavour  for  a  meeting  in  the  city  of  Peterborough, 
though  I  heard  of  no  Friends  there  to  receive  me,  or 
our  Friends;  but  upon  enquiry,  a  sober  honest  minded 
man,  of  reputation  and  quality,  was  willing  to  have  a 
meeting  at  his  house,  which  accordingly  was  appointed 
to  be  on  a  First-day  of  the  week,  in  the  first  or  second 
month,  in  the  year  IGOO.  And  many  Friends  from 
divers  parts  adjacent,  resorted  to  it,  out  of  the  Fens, 
and  some  out  of  Rutlandshire,  &c. 

"  In  the  week  before  the  meeting,  1  had  a  great 
weight  and  sense  upon  my  spirit,  that  we  should  have 
some  trial  and  exercise,  by  suffering,  at  that  meeting, 
being  sensible  of  the  great  darkness  and  wickedness 
that  were  in  that  city,  though  but  a  little  one;  and  so 
it  came  to  pass,  for  when  otir  Friends  began  to  meet  in 
the  house,  the  mob  and  rude  people  gathered  about  it 
and  in  the  yard,  in  such  a  rude  and  turbulent  manner, 
as  if  they  were  minded  to  pull  down  the  house  ;  where- 
upon we  thought  it  best  to  remove  the  meeting  into 
the  court  yard  adjoining,  being  unwilling  the  honest 
man's  house  should  any  ways  be  damaged  by  that  rude 
crew;  and  I  was  resigned  in  the  will  of  the  Lord,  ra- 
ther to  be  given  into  their  hands,  than  that  the  family 
where  we  met,  should  sutfer  on  account  of  the  meeting 
being  there. 

"After  we  were  removed  into  the  yard,  I  was  moved 
to  stand  up,  and  in  the  Name  of  the  Lord,  to  preach 
the  Truth  for  near  an  hour  ;  and  the  Lord  stood  by 
me  and  strengthened  me,  so  as  I  was  enabled  livingly 
to  declare  the  Truth,  with  a  free  resignation  also  to 
sutfer  what  violence  or  evil  He  should  permit  the 
wicked  to  do,  or  inflict  upon  me;  for  I  had  often  be- 
fore that  time  resigned  life  and  liberty  for  the  Gospel's 
sake. 

"  While  I  was  declaring  the  Truth,  a  man  who  they 
said  was  an  inn-keeper,  with  a  rude  company  after 
him,  rushing  violently  and  furiously,  came  in,  aiming 


142  MEMOIRS    OF 

chiefly  to  pull  me  down.  The  meeting  being  some- 
what crowded,  he  could  not  readily  get  at  me ;  in  the 
mean  time,  others  threw  dirt  at  me,  whereby  my  head 
and  face  were  greatly  daubed,  yet  I  went  on  declaring 
the  Truth.  The  furious  man  still  striving  to  come  at 
me,  took  up  a  stool  by  the  feet,  and  heaving  it  up  to 
strike  such  as  were  in  his  way,  a  Friend  standing  by, 
caught  hold  of  it  as  he  was  making  his  blow,  to  prevent 
the  same  ;  yet  notwithstanding  he  gave  an  ancient 
woman,  a  friend  of  ours,  a  blow  with  the  edge  of  it  on 
the  side  of  her  head,  which  made  such  a  wound  on  her 
temple,  near  her  eye,  that  it  was  thought,  if  his  blow 
had  fallen  directly  on  her  head,  it  might  have  beaten 
out  her  brains ;  but  the  Lord  providentially  prevented 
that. 

"  Still  the  man's  fury  and  rage  seemed  to  be  chiefly 
against  me,  and  his  struggle  to  get  at  me ;  so  that  ra- 
ther than  he  should  do  more  mischief,  1  desired  the 
meeting  might  make  way,  that  he  might  come  to  me ; 
for  I  was  really  above  the  fear  of  any  hurl,  he  or  they 
could  do  to  me.  Then  he  and  his  company  came,  and 
violently  pulled  me  down ;  and  when  I  was  in  their 
hands,  I  felt  much  ease  in  my  spirit,  being  sensible  the 
Lord  was  secretly  pleading  my  cause  with  them,  so 
that  their  fury  was  immediately  abated,  and  their  spi- 
rits down ;  insomuch  that  they  were  restrained  from 
doing  me  harm  ;  only  they  haled  me  out  of  the  meet- 
ing, through  part  of  their  cathedral  church,  so  termed, 
there  being  a  passage  open ;  and  then  they  quickly  let 
me  go. 

"  There  were  some  soldiers,  as  it  was  said,  of  Lam- 
bert's, or  the  old  army,  then  quartered  in  Peterborough, 
who  were  spectators,  and  beheld  how  1  and  others 
were  treated  and  abused,  at  the  said  meeting :  and 
some  of  them  took  compassion,  and  had  us  to  one  of 
their  quarters;  where  I  washed  the  dirt  off  my  face. 

"  Some  Friends  with  me,  were  then  directed  into  an 
upper  room  in  the  inn,  where  we  sat  together,  waiting 
upon  the  Lord  for  some  time,  I  think  near  two  hours  ; 


G.    WHITEHEAD.  143 

and  the  Lord  comforted  and  refreshed  our  spirits ;  and 
He  put  it  into  my  heart  to  return  again  to  the  same 
house,  from  which  I  had  been  haled  away  out  of  the 
meeting  ;  and  several  sober  people  were  there  gather- 
ed together,  in  the  afternoon,  and  1  had  a  good  meeting 
and  service  for  the  Lord,  in  bearing  testimony  for  his 
blessed  Truth  among  them ;  and  we  held  the  meeting 
quietly,  and  parted  peaceably. 

"  After  the  meeting  was  over,  I  left  Peterborough, 
and  some  Friends  rode  with  me,  and  I  went  away 
thence  much  comforted,  and  refreshed  in  the  Lord  my 
God ;  having  felt  his  living  power  and  presence  with  me 
and  my  friends,  to  our  preservation,  and  deliverance 
out  of  the  hands  of  unreasonable  men ;  though  they  had 
shown  their  fury  and  madness  against  us  that  day,  but 
were  not  suffered  to  do  us  much  harm ;  except  the 
aforesaid  ancient  woman  friend's  being  wounded,  as  be- 
fore related. 

"  The  same  evening,  we  rode  a  few  miles  to  an  hon- 
est friend's  house,  I  think  his  name  was  John  Mason, 
who  had  left  the  army,  received  the  Truth,  and  be- 
came a  serviceable  friend." 


(  144  ) 


SECTION  vin. 

Restoration  of  the  Monarchy — King  Charles's  declaration  for  li- 
berty of  conscience. —  Uemarks  on  his  sincerity.— Fifth-monarchy- 
men. — Proclamation  against  conventicles,  and  consequent  re- 
newal of  persecution — G.  Whitehead's  imprisonment  with 
others  in  Norwich  castle ;  released  by  the  king's  proclamation. — 
Henry  Kettle,  formerly  mayor  of  Thetford. — Act  of  Parliament 
respecting  Friends'  refusal  to  take  any  oath — The  endeavours 
of  Friends  to  prevent  the  bill  passing  the  House  of  Commons. 

George  Whitehead  begins  the  second  part  of  his 
*'  Christian  Progress"  with  devout  and  grateful  acknow- 
ledgments of  the  Lord's  power,  goodness,  and  special 
Providence,  evinced  in  his  preservation  and  deliverance 
from  the  will  of  his  enemies,  who  sought  his  destruc- 
tion ;  and  in  having  strengthened  him  to  perform  the 
work  in  which  he  was  engaged  ;  so  that  he  says,  his 
spirit  was  preserved  in  faith  and  patience,  to  obey  and 
serve  God  with  sincere  resolution,  in  the  work  of  the 
Gospel.  "  Let  my  soul  forever  bless  and  praise  the 
worthy  Name  and  Power  of  the  Lord  my  God  !" 

In  the  year  1660  the  government  of  the  Common- 
wealth, under  which  the  Society  had  endured  so  much 
persecution,  came  to  an  end  ;  and  preparations  were 
made  for  the  return  of  king  Charles  the  second.*     The 

*  The  following  sketch  of  the  state  of  the  nation  at  this  time,  as 
given  by  Rapin,  may  not  be  uninteresting  to  some  readers. 

"At  the  arrival  of  the  king  the  face  of  England  was  entirely 
changed,  and  joy,  pleasures,  public  and  private  rejoicings,  succeed- 
ed to  trouble  and  consternation.  The  people  were  so  tired  of  the 
life  they  had  led  for  twenty  years  past,  that  they  did  not  believe  it 
possible  to  be  in  a  worse  state.  Every  one  rejoiced  to  see  at  least 
a  calm  after  so  long  a  storm,  and  expected  to  enjoy  a  tranquility 
sought  in  vain  for  so  many  years.  The  Royalists  and  Episcopa- 
lians were  at  once  raised  to  the  height  of  their  wishes,  in  behold- 
ing Charles  H.  on  the  throne  of  his  ancestors;  and  the  Church  of 
England  about  to  resume  her  former  lusire.  The  Presbyterians 
flattered  themselves,  that  their  late  services  for  the  king,  would  at 
least  procure  them  an  entire  liberty  of  conscience,  and  the  free  ex- 


O.    WHITEHEAD.  '  145 

Declaration  of  liberty  to  tender  consciences,  which  the 
king  had  made  from  Breda,  and  which  having  been  pre- 
sented to  the  house  of  peers,  was  ordered  to  be  publish- 
ed, had  doubtless  a  considerable  efFect  in  preparing  the 
minds  of  some  of  those  who  had  been  in  favour  of  the 
Commonwealth  for  the  king's  return.  The  following 
extract  is  made  from  this  Declaration,  which  is  equally 
remarkable  for  the  fairness  of  its  promise,  and  the  faith- 
lessness of  its  execution. 


*'  And  because  the  passion  and  uncharitableness  of 
the  times,  have  produced  several  opinions  in  religion, 
by  which  men  are  engaged  in  parties  and  animosities 
against  each  other,  which,  when  they  shall  hereafter 
be  united  in  a  freedom  of  conversation,  will  be  com- 
posed or  better  understood — We  do  declare  a  liberty  to 
tender  consciences;  and  that  no  man  shall  be  disquiet- 
ed or  called  in  question,  for  differences  of  opinion  in 
matters  of  religion,  which  do  not  disturb  the  peace  of 
the  kingdom ;  and  that  we  shall  be  ready  to  consent  to 
such  an  act  of  parliament,  as,  upon  mature  delibera- 
tion, shall  be  oflcrcd  to  us  for  the  full  granting  of  that 
indulgence." 

Whether  the  king  or  his  advisers  were  sincere  in  the 
professions  which  were  made  at  this  juncture,  cannot 
perhaps  be  absolutely  determined  :  George  Whitehead 
is  inclined  to  think,  that  the  king  was  not  himself  dis- 
posed to  persecution.  It  is  observable,  however,  that 
when  it  was  proposed  in  Parliament,  that  the  substance 
of  the  king's  declaration  in  regard  to  religious  liberty 
should  be  embodied  in  an  act,  the  secretary  of  state 
rose  and  opposed  it ;  and  it  was  in  consequence  lost. 
It  was  not  perhaps  unnatural  to  infer  from  hence,  the 
king's  indisposition  to  the  measure  of  toleration ;  but 
when  his  love  of  ease  and  pleasure  is  taken  into  ac- 

ercise  of  their  religion.  The  Republicans,  Independents,  and  Ana- 
baptists, could  not  indeed  hope  to  be  restored  to  the  state  tiiey  had 
enjoyed  so  many  years,  but  expected  at  least  an  entire  impunity, 
agreeably  to  the  Breda  declaration."  Editor. 

VOL.    I.  N 


146  MEMOIRS    OP 

count,  and  the  general  disinclination  of  most  influential 
persons  of  all  parties  to  the  granting  of  general  liberty 
of  conscience;  Ave  can  hardly  infer  the  king's  real  sen- 
timent from  the  conduct  of  his  government.  If  even, 
as  a  matter  of  taste  and  general  feeling,  he  would  have 
preferred  seeing  all  his  subjects  worship  as  they  please; 
as  a  matter  of  principle,  enervated  as  his  mind  must 
have  been  by  profligate  habits,  and  imbued  with  popish 
principles,  it  is  not  to  be  supposed  that  he  would  right- 
ly estimate  the  claims  of  tender  consciences,  or  have 
energy  to  execute  what  he  even  desired.  If  the  Epis- 
copalians were  now  indisposed  to  toleration,  the  king 
would  not  have  forgotten  how,  when  he  was  in  the 
hands  of  the  Scotch,  the  latter  had  made  him  confess 
the  sinfulness  of  toleration  in  general  j  and  that  just 
before  his  restoration,  they  had  sent  over  a  deputation 
to  Holland,  to  remind  him  that  the  kirk  of  Scotland  ex- 
pected protection  upon  the  footing  of  the  Presbyterian 
establishment,  without  indulgence  to  sectaries.  He  knew 
also,  with  how  little  toleration  to  others  the  Indepen- 
dents had  exercised  their  authority;  and  that  there 
was  not  any  considerable  party,  whose  favour  he  would 
obtain  by  supporting  his  declaration  from  Breda.  The 
just  principles  which  the  declaration  contained,  would 
appear  to  many,  at  that  time,  as  dangerous,  and  per- 
haps to  most  as  theoretical :  so  that  any  abuse  of  li- 
berty, or  ebullition  of  enthusiastic  feeling,  would  be 
likely  to  furnish  the  alarmists  with  an  argument  suffi- 
cient to  excite  popular  fears;  and  thus  to  give  again 
the  reins  of  government,  in  ecclesiastical  matters,  to 
those  who  were  disposed  to  drive  all,  by  pains  and  pe- 
nalties, into  an  external  uniformity  in  matters  of  wor- 
ship. 

Such  an  occurrence  was  not  long  wanting :  a  few 
months  after  the  king  had  ascended  the  throne,  arose 
the  insurrection  of  the  Fifth-monarchy-men,  a  set  of 
persons  about  thirty-five  in  number;  who,  imagining 
that  the  one  thousand  years'  reign  of  Christ,  spoken  of 
Rev.  XX.  was  just  commencing,  ran  about  the  streets  of 


G.    WHITEHEAD.  147 

London  well  armed,  determined  to  put  down  the  reign 
of  king  Charles;  and,  applying  those  words  of  Scrip- 
ture to  themselves,  that  "  one  should  chase  a  thousand," 
they  made  their  attempt  with  a  degree  of  fury  and  vio- 
lence proportioned  to  their  confidence. 

There  was  not  the  smallest  ground  for  connecting 
this  mad  insurrection  with  any  considerable  religious 
party  ;  and  certainly  least  of  all  with  the  poor  Qua- 
kers, who  had  sutFercd  so  mucii  during  the  interreg- 
num, and  had  steadily  supported  their  Christian  prin- 
ciple against  all  fightivg.  Nevertheless,  in  those  evil 
days,  it  proved  sufficient  to  excite  against  dissenters 
generally,  that  undistinguishing  feeling  which  is  com- 
mon to  weak  and  ignorant  minds ;  and  it  gave  the 
court,  now  under  Episcopalian  influence,  a  sufficient 
pretext  for  reviving  persecution,  by  the  issuing  of  a  pro- 
clamation, PROHIBITING  all  unlawful  and  seditious  meet- 
ings and  conventicles,  under  pretence  of  religious  wor- 
ship, &,c. 

'i'he  proclamation  states:  "That  some  evil  effects 
have  already  ensued,  to  the  disturbance  of  the  public 
peace,  by  insurrection  and  murder,  by  reason  of  the 
meetings  of  Anabaptists,  and  Quakers,  and  Fifth-mo- 
narchy-men, and  such  like  appellations,  &-C. 

"  And  to  the  intent  that  none  of  these  persons,  who 
have  presumed  to  make  so  ill  an  use  of  our  indulgence, 
may  be  strengthened  in  such  their  proceedings,  &,c. 

"  No  meeting  whatsoever  of  the  persons  aforesaid, 
under  pretence  of  worshipping  God,  shall  at  any  time 
hereafter  be  permitted  and  allowed  ;  unless  it  be  in 
some  parochial  church  or  chapel  in  this  realm,  or  in 
private  houses  by  the  persons  there  inhabiting ;  and 
that  all  meetings  and  assemblies  whatsoever,  in  order 
to  any  spiritual  worship  and  serving  of  God,  by  the 
persons  aforesaid,  unless  in  the  places  aforesaid,  shall 
be  esteemed,  and  are  hereby  declared  to  be  unlawful 
assemblies,  and  shall  be  prosecuted  accordingly :  and 
the  persons  therein  assembled,  shall  be  proceeded 
against,  as  riotously  and  unlawfullv  assembled,  &,c. 


148  MEMOIRS    OF 

"  And  we  do  will  and  command  our  justices,  that 
they  cause  the  oath  of  allegiance  to  be  tendered  to 
every  person,  so  brought  before  them,  &c." 

"  Hereupon,"  says  the  narrative,  "  the  most  irreligi- 
ous and  profane  sort  of  people  were  animated,  and  took 
occasion  against  our  religious  and  peaceable  meetings, 
eagerly  to  endeavour  to  suppress  them ;  being  encour- 
aged by  the  new  juj<tices  and  magistrates,  then  got  into 
commission.  The  vile  and  profane,  and  most  wicked 
of  all  sorts,  being  lifted  up  and  exalted  in  their  spirits, 
upon  the  restoration  of  the  king  and  his  accession  to 
the  crown,  were  then  triumphant  and  insulting  against 
all  religious  dissenters;  and  especially  threatening  the 
Quakers,  and  their  meetings,  with  ruin,  &c.*    And  see- 

*  Whatever  might  have  been  the  vices  of  the  Commonvt^ealth, 
certain  it  is  tiiat  tlic  restoration  of  monarchy  opened  the  very  flood- 
gates of  vice. 

"  With  the  restoration  of  the  king,"  says  Burnet,  "  a  spirit  of 
extravagant  joy  spread  over  the  nation,  that  broiiglit  in  witii  it  the 
throwing  oft' the  very  professions  of  virtue  and  piety  :  all  ended  in 
entertainments  and  drunkenness,  which  overrun  the  three  king- 
doms to  such  a  degree,  that  it  very  much  corrupted  all  their  morals. 
Under  the  cover  of  drinking  the  king's  health,  there  were  great 
disorders  and  much  riot  every  where."  And  speaking  of  the  first 
session  of  Parliament  after  the  king's  return,  he  says  :  ''  It  was  a 
mad,  roaring  time,  full  of  extravagance  :  and  no  wonder  it  was  so, 
when  the  men  of  aftairs  were  almost  perpetually  drunk." 

Edward  Burrough  at  this  time  published  a  work,  dedicated  to  all 
rulers  in  the  Christian  world  ;  in  which,  "  with  sound  arguments," 
says  Sewel,  "  he  manifested  the  unhiwfulness  and  injustice  of 
persecution — from  whence  it  had  its  rise — and  how  dangerous  it 
was  to  impose  religion." 

George  Fox  the  younger,  who  was  then  a  prisoner,  addressed  a 
very  plain  and  forcible  expostulation  to  the  king,  on  account  of  the 
vices  which  jirevailed  under  his  sanction,  and  the  disposition  which 
lie  thought  he  saw  to  restore  popery.  The  following  passages  will 
show  the  innocent  courage  of  the  writer,  in  these  arbitrary  days: 
*'Thc  King  of  kings  hath  beheld  I  yea,  the  King  of  kings  hath  seen 
even  all  thy  actings  In  the  dark  ;  and  He  hath  traced  thy  walking 
in  obscure  places  ;  and  thou  hast  not  hid  thy  counsels  from  the 
Almighty  ;  but  lie  hath  seen  all  the  intents  of  thy  heart,  and  thy 
good  words  have  not  at  all  deceived  Him,  nor  ihose  that  purely 
stood  in  his  counsel." 

"Thou  hast  highly  displeased  the  Lord  God,  by  thy  suffering 
persecution  to  be  acted  in  thy  name,  even  whilst  thou  in  words 


G.    WUITEUEAD.  149 

ing  what  a  great  flood  of  wickedness  and  debauchery- 
was  broken  forth,  and  religion  and  virtue  despised,  we 
then  expected  no  other  but  severe  and  hard  treatment 
from  our  persecutors,  whose  hearts  were  set  in  them  to 
endeavour  our  ruin,  or  to  root  us  out  of  the  land: 
dark  clouds  then  appearing,  and  threatening  a  great 
storm. 

"  Insomuch  that  at  a  certain  time,  when  I  was  tra- 
velling alone  on  the  high-way,  and  in  earnest  supplica- 
tion to  the  Lord,  and  spreading  our  case  and  my  com- 
plaint before  Him,  in  deep  humility  and  contrition  of 
spirit,  1  said  in  my  heart  and  in  expressions :  '  O  Lord  ! 

hast  promised  liberty;  yea,  many  are  this  day  in  holes  and  prisons, 
for  t!ie  testimony  of  a  good  conscience,  and  obeying  the  doctrine  of 
Christ.  Oh  !  the  Lord  is  grieved  with  the  pride  and  wickedness 
that  is  lived  in,  both  in  thy  family  and  dominions  ;  and  thou  thy- 
self hast  not  been  such  a  pattern  and  example  amongst  them  as 
thou  oughtesl  to  have  been.  Oh,  friend  1  when  I  behold  the  wick- 
edness, cruelty,  and  oppression,  that  abound  in  this  nation  in  open 
view,  and  also  the  secret  abominations  which  are  committed,  and 
are  plotting  and  lurking  in  the  chambers;  verily,  my  life  is  even 
bowed  down  because  of  the  fierce  wrath  of  the  Almighty  which  I 
see  is  kindled,  and  because  of  the  great  destruction  which  I  see  at- 
tends tiie  wicked  ;  whose  ends  and  counsels  the  Lord  will  frustrate, 
and  upon  whom  He  will  pour  out  everlasting  contempt.  Yea,  and 
it  hath  been  oft  in  me,  before  thou  camest  last  into  the  land  and 
since,  even  when  it  hath  been  shown  me  what  idolatry  is  intended 
in  secret  to  be  brought  in  ;  that  certainly  it  had  been  better  for 
thee  that  thou  hadst  never  come  ;  for  I  have  seen  it  tending  to  thy 
destruction.  And  when  I  have  seen  the  abomination  and  cruelties 
which  are  committed  and  intended,  there  hath  a  pity  arose  in  me 
towards  thee  for  thy  soul's  sake;  and  it  hath  been  my  desire,  if  it 
might  stand  with  the  will  of  God,  that  Me  would  put  it  into  thy 
heart  to  go  out  of  the  land  again,  that  so  thy  life  might  bo  preserv- 
ed, and  that  thou  mightest  have  time  to  repent  :  for  although  many 
men  flatter  and  applaud  thee  for  self  ends,  yet  the  Lord  is  displeased 
with  thy  ways.  Let  no  man  deceive  thee  by  feigned  words.  God 
will  not  be  mocked  :  such  as  thou  sowest,  such  must  thou  reap. 
Tliou  canst  not  hide  thyself  J>om  the  Lord  ;  nor  deliver  thyself 
from  the  stroke  of  his  hand." 

The  ki   g  is  said  to  have  read  this  faithful  warning  with  attention. 
The  duke  of  York,  who  also  read  it,  was  very  indignant,  and  urged 
the  king  to  punish  the  writer;  to  which  he  replied  good  naturedly  : 
"  //  were  belter  for  us  to  mend  our  /ires." — SeweVs  Hist.  p.  497 — 501 
vol.  i.  8vo.  edit.  Editor- 

N    2 


150  MEMOIRS    OF 

this  wicked  persecuting  spirit,  that  is  got  up  and  let 
loose,  will  sccif  to  lay  waste,  and  root  Ihy  heritage  and 
people  out  of  tlie  land:  Oh  !  Lord,  plead  our  cause; 
plead  the  cause  of  Thy  people,  Thy  seed  and  heritage.' 
Whereupon  the  Lord  gave  me  this  answer,  viz. 

"  'The  wicked  shall  not  have  their  evil  designs  ac- 
complished, against  my  people  ;  1  will  frustrate  their 
wicked  purposes  ;  they  shall  not  root  my  heritage  out 
of  the  land,  though  they  be  suffered  for  a  time  to  perse- 
cute and  try  my  people;  I  will  stand  by  and  defend, 
and  in  due  time  deliver  them,'  &.c.  Yea,  and  to  this 
purpose,  and  much  more  of  the  same  tendency,  has  the 
Lord  often  livingly  signiiied  and  revealed  to  me,  by  his 
Holy  Spirit,  even  in  times  of  deep  suffi^ring  and  trials; 
tliat  under  them,  or  any  of  them,  I  might  not  faint  nor 
be  discouraged;  but  still  believe  to  see  the  goodness  of 
the  Lord  in  the  land  of  the  living,  where  praises  ever 
live  to  Him. 

"  After  the  aforesaid  insurrection,  and  the  said  pro- 
clamation was  issued  out ;  then  persecution,  outrage, 
and  violence,  quickly  broke  out  in  the  land  ;  then  the 
roaring,  raging,  busy  persecutors  bestirred  themselves, 
to  hunt  up  and  down  after  religious  meetings,  assem- 
blies, and  congregations,  which  they  unjustly  termed 
seditious  conventicles,  to  break  up  and  disperse  them, 
and  cause  many  to  be  imprisoned  and  confined  in  nasty 
jails;  where  great  numbers  of  innocent  persons  then 
suffered,  in  most  counties  of  England  and  Wales,  espe- 
cially of  the  people  called  Quakers;  whose  meetings 
were  most  apparent  and  open,  and  most  easily  come  at. 

"  Our  Friends  were  not  wanting  to  plead  and  make 
known  their  innocent  cause,  to  the  king  and  govern- 
ment, both  by  word  and   writing  ;*  and  to  show  how 

*  There  was,  at  this  time,  about  one  thousand  five  hundred 
Friends  in  prison  ;  and  Neal,  in  his  liistory  of  the  Puritans,  says, 
that  on  the  Quaiters  representing  to  the  king  tlieir  peaceable  and 
harmless  character,  "  he  promised  them,  on  the  word  of  a  king,  that 
they  should  not  suffer  for  their  opinions  as  long  as  they  lived  peace- 
ably ;  but  his  word  was  little  regarded." 


G.    WHITEHEAD.  151 

clear  their  religious  meetings  were,  from  any  sedition, 
plots,  conspiracies,  or  contriving  of  insurrections  against 
the  government  or  nation  ;  and  consequently  no  such 
meetings  are  by  law  deemed  conventicles,  unlawful,  or 
riotous  meetings.  So  that  those  persecutions  and  pun- 
ishments, indicted  upon  us  because  of  other  men's 
crimes,  appeared  to  be  no  small  perversion  of  justice, 
as  well  as  injury  done  to  many  hundreds  of  honest 
industrious  families  ;  whose  innocent  cause  the  Lord  in 
his  own  time  pleaded  in  those  days;  and  since  hath  not 
been  wanting  to  stand  by,  and  help  his  faithful  people 
in  their  times  of  need." 


In  these  days  of  persecution  George  Whitehead  bore 
his  share  of  sulfering.  He  gives  the  following  account 
of  his  commitment  to  Norwich  castle,  with  three  other 
Friends,  viz.  John  and  Joseph  J^awrence  and  William 
Barber.  "  With  many  more  of  our  Friends,  being 
peaceably  met  together  for  the  worship  and  service  of 
God,  at  a  meeting  at  Pulham-Mary,  Norfolk,  while  we 
were  calling  upon  the  Lord  in  prayer,  one  in  the  place 
of  a  chief  constable,  with  a  company  of  horsemen  and 
footmen,  without  warrant  from  any  justice,  came  with 
halberts,  pistols,  swords,  pitchforks,  clubs,  and  hedge- 
stakes,  and  haled  us  and  other  of  our  Friends  out  of 
the  said  meeting ;  and  the  next  day  we  were  carried 
on  horseback  several  miles,  and  had  before  one  Thomas 
Talbot,  justice  of  peace,  near  Wymondham,  wljo  com- 
mitted us  to  prison  upon  information  which  the  consta- 
ble gave  him  in  writing,  touching  tlie  said  meeting; 
wherein  we  were  falsely  accused  of  being  unlawfully 
met  together.      There   appeared  none   to   prove  the 

Burnet's  character  of  him  was  but  too  often  illustrated  by  his  con- 
duct to  the  suffering  Friends  ;  though  it  must  be  allowed  he  did 
in  some  instances,  render  tiiem  services.  "  He  had  a  softness  of 
temper  that  cliarmed  all  who  came  near  him,  till  they  found  how 
little  they  could  depend  on  good  looks,  kind  words,  and  fair  pro- 
mises, in  which  he  was  liberal  to  excess  ;  because  he  intended 
nothing  by  them,  but  to  get  rid  of  importunities,  and  to  silence  all 
further  pressing  upon  him,"  Editor. 


152  MEMOIRS    OF 

charge  against  us ;  nevertheless  we  were  next  day  sent 
to  Norwich  castle. 

"  Persecution  being  then  generally  stirred  up  against 
our  Friends  throughout  the  nation,  nnost  prisons  were 
filled  with  them,  because  of  their  religious  meetings. 
Many  of  them  were  committed  to  Norwich  castle ;  and 
their  meetings  disturbed,  and  broken  up,  from  one  end 
of  the  county  to  the  other,  and  likewise  in  the  city  of 
Norwich  ;  insomuch  that  about  thirty  were  then  crowd- 
ed in  that  old  nasty  jail.  And  there  being  a  hole  in  a 
corner  of  the  castle  wall,  called  the  vice,  we,  the  four 
Friends  before  mentioned,  betook  ourselves  to  it,  to 
lodge  in;  though  a  poor,  narrow  hole,  without  any 
chimney  in  it ;  yet  there  \vc  got  up  two  little  beds,  and 
lodged  two  in  each.  Having  an  old  decayed  stone 
arch  over  it,  the  rain  came  so  much  in  upon  us,  that 
we  could  not  well  keep  it  off  our  beds,  though  we  set 
dishes  or  basons  to  keep  off  what  we  could.  In  the 
cold  of  winter  we  burnt  a  little  charcoal  in  evenings, 
which  we  found  somewhat  injurious  and  suffocating, 
having  no  vent  for  the  smoke  or  steam  ;  and  in  the  day 
time,  we  endeavoured  often  to  keep  ourselves  warm, 
by  walking  upon  the  castle  hill,  and  under  the  wall, 
being  within  the  liberty  of  the  prison  ;  and  though  it 
was  a  cold  bleak  place  in  winter,  we  were  glad  that 
we  had  that  benefit  of  the  air. 

"  Yet  we  chose  this  hole  in  the  wall  for  our  lodging, 
partly  for  (he  ease  of  our  other  Friends,  who  were  too 
much  crowded  in  a  better  room  below.  We  had  many 
good  and  comfortable  meetings  together,  without  dis- 
turbance ;  several  friendly  persons  being  let  into  pri- 
son to  meet  with  us,  on  first-days  especially  ;  insomuch, 
that  at  that  time  the  prison  became  a  sanctuary  to  us  ; 
as  prisons  and  jails  were  to  many  of  our  poor  innocent 
suffering  Friends,  when  persecution  was  hot  and  per- 
secutors raging  and  roaring  abroad  ;  and  we  praying, 
and  praising  the  Lord  our  God,  in  prisons,  jails,  and 
holes. 

♦'  Our  said  Friends,  William  Barber  and  John  Law- 


G.    WIIITEHKAD.  153 

rence,  havinej  been  men  of  note,  and  captains  in  the 
ComtnouwoaUli's  day,  it  appeared  in  thern  great  self- 
denial  and  subjection  to  the  cross  of  Christ,  patiently 
so  to  suffer  for  his  name  and  Truth's  sake. 

"In  the  time  of  that  imprisonment  in  Norwich  cas- 
tle, near  the  latter  end  of  winter,  or  about  the  begin- 
ning of  the  first  month,  16GI,  I  was  taken  sick  of  an 
ague  and  fever ;  v/hich  brought  me  so  low  and  weak, 
that  some  Friends  who  came  to  visit  me  were  ready  to 
take  their  last  leave  of  me,  thinking  I  should  die  in  that 
prison. 

"  The  time  for  our  appearing  at  the  spring  assizes 
at  Thetford  drawing  near,  I  believed  I  should  be  ena- 
bled to  ride  thither  ;  for  we  were  all  to  appear  who 
were  prisoners  for  our  religious  meetings.  And  in  order 
to  my  going  to  the  assizes,  my  horse  was  brought  to  the 
prison  door,  three  days  before  the  assizes  began.  1 
rode  with  John  Lawrence  to  his  house  at  Wrampling- 
ham,  on  the  seventh  day  of  the  week,  it  being  five  or 
six  miles  on  my  way  toward  Thetford  ;  and  stayed 
there  the  next  day  and  night  following;  and  then  we 
took  horse  for  Thetford,  being  about  twenty  miles  from 
Norwich.  The  weather  being  cold,  a  hail-shower  took 
us,  and  1  was  again  taken  with  a  fit  of  the  ague  on  the 
road,  before  we  got  to  Thetford  ;  yet  with  the  Lord^s 
help,  I  held  on,  and  grew  better  by  the  time  we  came 
to  Thetford ;  and  that  same  afternoon,  could  readily 
walk  up  to  the  top  of  that  noted  mount  or  hill,  which 
is  by  the  town.  We  met  the  rest  of  our  Friends,  who 
came  from  Norv.'ich  castle,  at  Thetford  prison  ;  where 
we  were  in  the  day  time,  after  the  assizes  began  ;  but 
at  night  had  liberty  to  lodge  at  our  Friends'  fiouses,  in 
or  near  the  town. 

"  Judge  Ilale  and  judge  Windham  were  the  two  jus- 
tices who  served  at  the  same  assizes,  and  judge  Wind- 
ham sat  on  the  crown  side;  who  in  his  charge  terribly 
threatened  dissenters,  and  such  as  would  not  go  to  the 
parish  church  and  conform,  or  that  kept  conventicles 
or  unlawful  meetings;    giving  the   country   notice  of 


154  MEMOIRS    OF 

divers  ancient  penal  severe  laws  made  against  such, 
and  causing  some  of  them  to  be  read  in  court ;  as  an 
ancient  Friend,  Elizabeth  Hawes,  then  living  at  Snare 
Hill  near  Thetford,  gave  me  a  full  account  with  tears, 
after  she  had  heard  the  said  charge  ;  she  being  very  sor- 
rowful to  see  how  they  were  bent  on  persecution.  To 
encourage  her,  I  signified  the  Lord  would  plead  our 
cause  and  stand  by  us ;  and  I  would  have  no  Friends 
discouraged,  but  be  faithful  to  the  Lord  and  valiant 
for  the  Truth  upon  earth. 

"  1  was  called  four  times  into  court  before  the  assizes 
were  over ;  and  particularly  questioned,  for  what  cause 
I  came  into  that  country  from  my  own  ;  to  which  I 
gave  the  Judges  a  sober  and  conscientious  account, 
that  1  was  called  of  the  Lord  to  preach  repentance 
and  to  bear  testimony  to  the  truth,  against  hypocrisy, 
sin,  and  wickedness. 

"  Being  required  to  take  the  oath  of  allegiance,  I 
told  the  judges,  that  Christ  hath  commanded  us  not  to 
swear  at  all,  Malt.  v. ;  and  his  apostle  James,  who  well 
knew  the  mind  of  Christ,  exhorted;  '  Above  all  things, 
my  brethren,  swear  not,  neither  by  heaven,  neither  by 
the  earth,  neither  by  any  other  oath  ;  but  let  your  yea 
be  yea,  and  your  nay,  nay  ;  lest  ye  fall  into  condemna- 
tion.' James  v.  12.  From  whence  I  inferred,  if  we  may 
not  swear  by  any  other  oath,  then  not  by  the  oath  of 
allegiance.  Therefore  1  cannot  swear  at  all,  nor  take 
any  oath  ;  either  that  of  allegiance  or  any  other.  The 
judges  did  not  dispute  the  point ;  but  seeing  that  1  and 
the  rest  of  our  Friends,  then  prisoners,  were  all  of  a 
mind  in  that  case,  that  we  all  refused  to  swear,  choos- 
ing rather  to  suffer  for  conscience,  we  were  remanded 
to  the  prison  in  Thetford. 

"  Before  the  assizes  were  ended,  some  of  us  were 
again  called  into  court ;  and  an  indictment  read  against 
me,  and  some  others  of  us,  stuffed  with  false  and  bitter 
accusations  and  invectives,  because  we  refused  to  take 
the  oath  of  allegiance  ;  that  being  the  snare  then  gen- 
erally laid  against  us ;  for  which  we  were  accused  and 


G.    WHITEHEAD.  155 

charged  with  wilfulness,  obstinacy,  and  contempt 
against  the  king,  his  crown  and  dignity,  and  such  like 
undue  and  injurious  charges.  Being  required  to  plead 
guilty  or  not  guilty,  I  began  to  distinguisli  upon  the 
indictment,  that  something  of  it  was  true,  that  we  re- 
fused to  take  the  said  oath,  but  it  was  not  out  of  any 
contempt  and  obstinacy  against  the  king  or  govern- 
ment, but  innocently  for  conscience'  sake,  in  obedience 
to  Christ's  command.  Judge  Windham  urging  us  to 
plead  guilty,  or  not  guilty,  thereby  to  prevent  me  from 
further  speaking,  to  open  our  case  or  plead  our  innocen- 
cy,  1  waved  pleading  in  those  terms  unless  he  would  suf- 
fer me  to  plead  specially,  with  distinction,  on  the  several 
parts  of  the  charge,  in  order  to  manifest  the  inconsisten- 
cy thereof,  and  our  clearness  and  innocence  who  were 
the  sulFerers.  The  said  judge  then  grew  offended,  be- 
cause I  was  not  willing  to  be  confined  only  to  plead 
guilty  or  not  guilty ;  and  he  was  for  having  me  taken 
away  and  remanded  to  prison  ;  whereupon  I  returned 
him  this  answer;  that  Paul,  when  a  prisoner,  was  per- 
mitted to  plead  and  speak  for  himself  before  king 
Agrippa,  Acts  xxvi.  and  before  the  Roman  or  heathen 
magistrates  and  rulers.  It  is  therefore  a  hard  case  we 
may  not  be  suffered  to  be  heard,  or  plead  for  ourselves 
before  you,  who  profess  yourselves  to  be  Christian  ma- 
gistrates. Whereupon  the  Judge  nppeared  angry  ;  and 
1  was  quickly  removed  out  of  court.  '  Take  him  away 
gaoler,'  was  such  a  knocking  argument  in  those  days, 
that  it  must  not  be  disputed :  yet  judge  Hale  behaved 
himself  more  mildly  and  gently  toward  us. 

'•  It  was  observed,  that  when  several  of  us  the  priso- 
ners were  called  into  court  together,  some  of  the  coun- 
try justices  on  the  bench  would  be  accusing  us,  to  judge 
Windham,  to  incense  him  against  us,  and  especially 
against  John  Hubbard, sen.  of  Stoke-Ferry  inNorfolk,  and 
others,  for  receiving  and  entertaining  the  Quakers  and 
their  preachers  at  their  houses.  Whereupon  John  Hub- 
bard, seeing  the  envy  of  those  persecutors  and  accusers, 
who  would  make  him  an  oflender  for  entertaining  stran- 


156  MKMOIKS    OF 

gers  as  the  apostle  taught,  lib.  xiii.  2,  was  stirred  up  in 
zeal  to  answer  liis  accusers,  and  plead  a  good  conscience 
toward  God  and  man,  as  being  known  to  be  an  honest 
man  fearing  God,  &,c.  which  he  testifying  in  a  good 
life,  with  zeal  and  courage,  gave  a  check  and  put  some 
stop  to  his  accuser  at  that  time,  from  proceeding  in  his 
accusations  against  the  innocent  prisoners.  But  it  was 
no  strange  thing  in  those  days,  for  a  sort  of  ill  natured 
persecuting  justices,  to  be  both  accusers  and  judges 
upon  the  bench,  against  our  Friends;  and  also,  like  in- 
vidious informers,  to  endeavour  to  incense  the  judges 
against  us,  by  unjust  insinuations  and  undue  accusa- 
tions; with  intent  to  stir  up  prejudice  and  hard  usage 
against  us,  and  often  to  prejudge  us  and  our  case,  before 
judicially  heard  and  tried. 

"Although  in  the  time  of  the  said  assizes  at  Thet- 
ford,  the  persecuting  spirit  was  eagerly  at  work  in  our 
adversaries,  I  daily  felt  the  Lord's  power  over  all;  where- 
by I  and  my  fellow- prisoners  were  supported,  strength- 
ened, and  preserved  in  innocency  and  great  peace,  to 
the  praise  of  our  most  gracious  God.  And  although  I 
could  expect  no  other,  but  our  persecutors  would  be 
suffered  to  strengthen  and  prolong  our  bonds,  at  least 
against  some  of  us,  whom  they  designed  to  make  ter- 
rifying examples;  yet  I  was  not  at  all  discouraged,  nor 
dejected  in  spirit,  under  that  persecution  ;  but  return- 
ed cheerfully  to  prison,  to  Norwich  castle,  and  was  bet- 
ter every  way  as  to  my  health  and  strength,  than  when 
1  came  out  from  thence,  to  go  to  the  assizes  at  Thet- 
ford. 

"  This  was  and  is  to  me  a  memorable  token  of  the 
merciful  Providence  of  God  ;  that  although  I  had  been 
very  weak  and  sick  in  prison  in  the  said  castle  but  a 
few  days  before,  and  rode  to  Thetford  assizes  in  a  weak 
condition  ;  yet  while  1  was  attending  upon  the  assizes, 
I  was  so  much  recovered  in  my  health,  that  my  ague 
and  fever  were  quite  removed,  and  I  had  not  the  re- 
turn of  one  fit  all  the  time  of  that  imprisonment ;  but 


©.    WHITEHEAD.  157 

was  restored  to  perfect  health,  which  continued  for 
several  years  after. 

'*  Six  of  us,  to  whom  the  oath  was  tendered,  and  that 
were  indicted,  were,  with  some  others,  remanded  priso- 
ners to  the  said  castle,  and  continued  prisoners  about 
sixteen  weeks.  The  rest  were  released  ;  being  mostly 
labouring  men,  farmers,  and  tradesmen ;  our  persecu- 
tors having  picked  out  such  whom  they  sent  back  to 
prison,  as  they  esteemed  to  be  the  most  eminent  among 
the  Quakers ;  as  the  said  John  Lawrence,  Joseph 
Lawrence,  William  Barber,  Henry  Kettle,  sen.  and 
jun.,  John  Hubbard,  and  several  others,  because  of  their 
love  and  kindness  to  their  Friends,  and  entertaining 
meetings  at  their  houses. 

"  Our  release  was  obtained  by  the  king's  proclama- 
tion of  grace,  as  it  was  termed  ;  wherein,  notwithstan- 
ding his  grace  or  favour  thereby  expressed  towards  the 
Quakers,  &,c.  it  was  not  without  a  menace  or  threat, 
i.  e.  not  intending  their  impunity  if  they  should  oflTend  in 
the  future,  in  like  manner  as  they  had  done,  &c.  which 
was  chiefly  by  their  religious  meetings,  intended  only 
for  the  worship  of  the  living  God,  according  to  their 
consciences  and  persuasions;  and  for  this  cause  our 
impunity  was  not  intended,  as  afterward  in  a  short 
time  it  more  fully  appeared. 

"  One  thing,  by  the  way,  1  may  not  omit  some  ac- 
count of.  When  we  were  together  in  Thetford  prison, 
in  order  to  appear  at  the  assizes,  I  met  with  Henry 
Kettle  the  elder,  a  prisoner  there  ;  who  was  an  ancient 
man,  and  had  been  mayor  of  the  town  and  a  justice  of 
peace,  before  he  was  in  communion  with  us.  And  after 
he  had  received  our  Friends  and  had  meetings  at  his 
house,  having  a  love  to  Truth  and  us,  he  was  commit- 
ted to  prison  ;  where  he  and  I  walking  together  in  the 
prison  yard,  he  opened  his  condition  and  exercise  to  me 
how  he  vvas  beset  with  relations,  and  pressed  to  take 
the  oath  of  allegiance  ;  otherwise  they  feared  he  and 
his  family  would  be  ruined :  whereupon  the  trial  came 
the   harder  on   him,    considering   his  own  weakness. 

VOL.    I.  o 


158  MEMOIRS    OF 

However,  he  tenderly  told  me,  he  had  considered 
Christ's  words  :  *  No  man  having  put  his  hand  to  the 
plough  and  looking  back,  is  tit  for  the  kingdom  of  God  ;' 
concluding  thcreiore,  he  must  not  look  back  or  decline 
from  the  Truth. 

•'I  was  very  glad  to  hear  him  voluntarily  give  such 
a  tender  account,  both  of  his  trial  and  good  resolution  ; 
having  well  understood  his  weakness,  and  how  consi- 
derable a  time  he  had  been  wavering  and  halting  in 
his  mind;  and  how  hard  it  was  for  him,  being  a  per- 
son of  great  note,  to  give  up  to  the  cross  of  Christ,  so  as 
to  endure  reproach  and  persecution  for  Christ  Jesus 
and  his  Truth.  Yet  now  when  he  was  given  up  and  re- 
signed to  sutler  for  Christ,  he  was  assisted,  and  strength- 
ened rather  to  suffer  with  the  rest  of  us,  than  to  lose 
his  inward  peace,  by  declining  Truth's  testimony.  He 
was,  contrary  to  law,  removed  from  'J  hetford,  the  cor- 
poration where  his  residence  and  dwelling  was,  to  the 
county  gaol  in  Noiwich  castle  ;  where  his  son  Henry 
was  detained  prisoner,  with  the  rest  of  us  who  had  been 
and  were  then  prisoners. 

"  At  the  ensuing  quarter-sessions  held  at  Norwich, 
the  said  Henry  Kettle  the  elder  was  called  into  the 
court  of  sessions;  where,  to  ensnaie  him,  he  was  re- 
quired to  take  the  oath  of  allegiance,  with  endeavours 
to  impose  it  upon  him.  Eut  he  stood  firm  and  would 
not  be  imposed  on  ;  telling  the  justices,  that  he  was  re- 
moved out  of  his  own  res|)cctive  corporation  to  which 
he  belonged,  contrary  to  law;  and  therefore  was  un- 
duly brought  before  them  in  that  court.  It  was  a 
breach  of  his  and  the  corporation's  privilege,  to  remove 
him  thence  to  that  quarter-sessions,  to  he  prosecuted 
or  tried,  and  expressly  contrary  to  Magna  Charta ; 
whereby  the  liberties  and  privileges  of  corporations  are 
to  be  upheld  and  maintained,  and  not  violated. 

"  I  and  another  fellow-jjrisoner  being  then  on  the 
castle  hill,  heard  him  plead  after  this  manner  and  hold 
them  closely  to  the  point.  But  instead  of  answering 
him  legally,  or  vindicating  their  proceeding   by  law, 


G.    WHITEUEAU.  159 

they  still  obtruded  and  imposed  upon  him,  saying:  '  It 
is  no  miittcr,  it  is  no  matter  how  you  came  liere ;  tiiat 
is  not  our  business  to  enquire  after:  but  now  you  are 
here,  we  have  power  to  tender  you  the  oath.  Mr 
Kettle,  will  you  take  the  oath  of  allegiance,  aye  or  no?' 

"lie  answered:  '  Let  me  be  returned  back  to  my 
own  corporation,  the  town  of  Thetford,  and  there  I  may 
answer.'  But  otherwise  he  esteemed  himself  not  bound 
to  answer  in  that  court  of  sessions,  held  for  the  county 
of  Norfolk. 

"  This  account  is  the  substance  of  the  procedure 
against  Henry  Kettle,  at  that  time;  and  when  the  jus- 
tices could  not  by  persuasion  or  menaces,  prevail  with 
him  to  swear  or  take  the  said  oath,  they  returned  him 
to  the  castle  gaol,  to  remain  prisoner  with  the  rest  of 
us. 

"  His  prosecutors  were  not  suffered  to  bring  him  un- 
der the  judgment  and  penalty  of  a  premunire,  any  more 
than  the  rest  of  us,  who  were  prosecuted  in  order  there- 
to; but  all  discharged  by  the  proclamation  aforesaid. 

"  It  was  but  for  a  short  time  after  we  were  set  at 
liberty,  that  we  could  enjoy  our  religious  meetings 
quietly;  the  irreligious,  persecuting  spirit  being  at  work 
in  the  nation  among  priesis  and  magistrates,  who  would 
have  all  compelled  to  go  to  church  and  conform,  for  all 
to  be  of  one  religion;*  when  there  was  but  little  of  the 
life,  substance,  or  purity  of  religion  designed  in  the 
case ;  but  rather  empty  form,  ceremony,  and  an  out- 
wart'  show  and  pretence,  to  palliate  covctousness,  pride, 
manifold  corruptions,  and  fleshly  liberty,  then  abound- 
ing and  more  and  more  manifest.  The  libertines  of 
those  days  boastingly  telling  us:  you  must  all  go  to 
church,  or  else  you  must  lose  your  estates;  or  you  niust 
be  hanged,  or  banished,  &.c.  With  many  such  threats 
and  cruel  mockings ;  yet  still  it  was  a  stay  to  us,  and 
sure  ground  of  faith  and  hope,  that  we  knew  Him  in 

*  The  idol  of  UDiformitj  has  been  the  Molock  of  the  Christian 
Church. 


160  MEMOIRS  OF 

whom  we  livingly  believed  and  hoped  for  salvation  and 
strength. 

"  So  hasty  and  precipitant  was  the  persecuting  spi- 
rit, and  eager  to  be  at  work,  and  that  too  under  some 
colour  or  pretence  of  law,  that  in  the  first  Parliament 
chosen  after  the  king's  restoration,  they  soon  contrived 
a  bill  for  suppressing  our  meetings ;  and  divers  of  the 
persons  chosen  to  be  members  of  that  Parliament  being 
persecutors,  that  party  swayed  and  carried  it  by  vote ; 
insomuch  that  the  bill  was  committed,  and  at  last  pass- 
ed into  an  act,  entitled, 

"  An  act  for  preventing  mischiefs  and  dangers  that 
may  arise  by  certain  persons  called  Quakers,  and  others 
refusing  to  take  lawful  oaths.* 

*  The  substance  of  the  act  was  as  follows  ;  "  Whereas  of  late 
times,  certain  persons  under  the  names  of  Quakers,  and  other 
names  of  separation,  have  taken  up  and  maintained  sundry  danger- 
ous opinions  and  tenets,  and  among  otliers  that  the  taking  of  an 
oath  in  any  case  whatsoever,  although  before  a  lawful  magistrate, 
is  altogether  unlawful,  and  contrary  to  the  word  of  God  :  and  the 
said  persons  do  daily  refuse  to  take  an  oath,  though  lawfully  ten- 
dered, whereby  it  often  happens  that  truth  is  wholly  suppressed, 
and  the  administration  of  justice  much  obstructed. 

"  And  whereas  the  said  persons,  under  a  pretence  of  religious 
worship,  do  often  assemble  themselves  in  great  numbers,  in  several 
parts  of  this  realm,  to  the  great  endangering  of  the  public  peace 
and  safety,  and  to  the  terror  of  the  people,  by  maintaining  a  secret 
and  strict  correspondence  among  themselves,  and  in  the  mean  time 
separating  and  dividing  themselves  from  the  rest  of  his  majesty's 
good  and  loyal  subjects,  and  from  the  public  congregations  and 
usual  places  of  Divine  Worship.     It  is  enacted, 

"  That  if  five  or  more  Quakers,  of  sixteen  years  of  age,  or  up- 
ward, assemble  under  pretence  of  joining  in  religious  worship,  not 
authorised  by  law ; 

"  The  party  offending,  being  convicted  by  verdict,  confession,  or 
by  the  notorious  evidence  of  the  fact,  shall  forfeit  for  the  first  offence, 
the  sum  imposed,  not  exceeding  five  pounds  :  and  for  the  second, 
the  sum  imposed,  not  exceeding  ten  pounds,  to  be  levied  by  distress, 
and  sale  of  the  goods  :  and  for  want  thereof,  or  non-payment  with- 
in a  week  after  conviction,  shall  be  committed  to  the  gaol,  or  house 
of  correction  ;  for  the  first  offence,  three  months  ;  for  the  second, 
six  months,  to  be  kept  at  hard  labour  :  and  if  after  two  convictions, 
they  offend  the  third  time,  and  are  convicted,  they  shall  abjure  the 
realm,  or  the  king  may  order  them  to  be  transported  in  any  ship, 
to  any  of  his  plantations." 


G.    WHITEHBAD.  161 

"This  act  was  levelled  against  the  people  called 
Quakers,  when  nothing  was  justly  chargeable  against 
them,  but  what  concerned  religion  and  worship  toward 
Alnnighty  God,  according  to  their  conscientious  persua- 
sions ;  therefore  it  was  purely  for  serving  and  wor- 
shipping Him  according  to  our  consciences,  that  we  did 
sutier  greatly  by  the  said  act  for  a  time. 

"  iSome  of  us,  viz.  Edward  Burrough,  Richard  Hub- 
berthorn,  and  myself,  having  notice  and  understanding 
the  matter  contained  therein ;  when  it  was  formed  into 
a  bill,  attended  the  Parliament  and  solicited  against 
the  same,  that  it  might  not  be  passed  into  an  act ;  dis- 
coursing many  of  the  members,  and  showing  them  how 
unreasonable  and  injurious  it  would  be,  to  pass  such  an 
act  against  us  an  innocent  people :  our  religious  as- 
semblies being  peaceable,  and  only  intended  for  the 
worship  of  Almighty  God,  according  to  our  consciences ; 
and  in  no  wise  tending  to  the  terror  of  the  public,  in 
appearance  or  action. 

"  When  the  said  bill  was  committed,  we  did  at  sun 
dry  times  attend  the  committee,  on  the  10th  and  13th 
days  of  the  5th  month,  1661  ;  and  each  of  us  were  per- 
mitted to  appear,  and  our  reasons  to  be  heard  before 
the  same,  concerning  the  bill,  why  it  should  not  pass 
against  us. 

"  What  1  declared  to  the  committee,  I  kept  this  ac- 
coimt  of,  viz.  the  first  time  I  signified,  '  that  our  meet- 
ings are  for  the  worship  of  God,  which  really  is  a  matter 
of  conscience,  and  of  great  weight  to  us;  and  that 
which  in  tenderness  of  conscience  to  Christ's  command 
we  practise,  for  no  other  end  but  singly  for  the  wor- 
ship and  service  of  God,  according  to  the  example  and 
practice  of  primitive  saints  and  Christians ;  and  that  we 
behaved  ourselves  peaceably  towards  all  men :  therefore 
therein  we  ought  to  have  the  liberty  of  our  consciences, 
according  to  the  king's  promises  of  liberty  to  tender 
consciences  in  matters  of  religion,  Slc. 

"*  And  that  if  we  suffer  for  our  peaceable,  harmless 
meetings,  we  suiTer  for  the  cause  of  God,  and  shall  com- 

o  2 


162  MEMOIRS    OF 

mit  our  cause  to  Him,  and  know  that  He  will  plead 
and  avenge  it  against  our  persecutors;'  or  to  the  same 
effect,  exhorting  them  to  act  in  the  fear  of  God;  with 
other  words  of  concernment  to  them. 

"  The  second  time  we  were  before  the  said  committee, 
I  told  them  as  concerning  our  meetings,  against  which 
their  intended  law  chiefly  was,  that  we  met  together 
in  the  Name  and  fear  of  the  Lord  God,  and  in  obedience 
to  Him  as  the  saints  of  old  did;  so  that  they  might  as 
well  go  about  to  make  a  law,  that  we  should  not  pray 
in  the  name  of  Christ  Jesus,  as  to  make  one  to  hinder 
or  suppress  our  meetings,  which  are  in  his  name  ;  and 
from  which  we  may  no  more  refrain,  than  Daniel  could 
forbear  praying  to  the  true  God,  though  it  was  contrary 
to  king  j)arius's  decree. 

"One  called  Sir  John  Goodrick,  being  one  of  the 
committee,  stood  up  and  most  busily  inveighed  against 
us;  accusing  our  meetings,  calling  them  unlawful,  tend- 
ing to  seduce  people  from  the  church,  and  to  seduce 
such  as  are  orthodox,  and  the  like. 

"To  which  I  answered :  '  That  if  our  meetings  be- 
contrary  to  law,  then  that  implies  there  is  some  law 
which  they  are  contrary  to;  and  if  so,  it  seems  super- 
fluous and  needless  for  you  to  go  about  to  make  an- 
other; but  no  such  thing,  we  hope,  can  be  proved 
against  us,  as  that  our  meetings  are  unlawful  in 
themselves ;  being  in  obedience  to  the  Lord  our  God, 
only  for  his  worship,  and  agreeable  to  the  practice  of 
the  primitive  Christians,  recorded  in  the  Scriptures  of 
Truth  ;  such  meetings  are  not  unlawful,  and  such  are 
ours  as  we  can  prove. 

"  And  if  your  intended  law  come  to  be  put  in  execu- 
tion against  us,  it  may  produce  sad  sulferings  upon 
thousands  of  innocent  people  in  the  nation,  and  endan- 
ger the  ruin  of  many  families;  and  the  loss  of  some 
lives;  (and  so  it  did,  by  persecution  and  imprison- 
ments;) and  of  what  a  bad  report  will  this  be,  that  an 
innocent  people  should  thus  be  oppressed  for  their  con- 


G.    WHITEHEAD.  163 

sciences,  when  no  matter  of  fact,  or  crime  worthy  of 
suirerintj;  can  bo  proved  against  tliem. 

"  And  further,  if  this  intended  law  be  efFected  against 
us,  it  will  elevate  and  strengthen  wicked,  malicious, 
and  lawless  persons,  to  take  occasion  to  persecute  us 
beyond  the  law;  as  they  have  lately  done,  when  great 
numbers  of  us  were  imprisoned  upon  the  king's  pro- 
clamation, for  meeting  together ;  some  of  our  Friends 
were  taken  out  of  their  beds  by  rude  fellows,  and  com- 
mitted to  prison  ;  and  some  poor  men  were  taken  from 
their  callings,  and  from  their  poor  families  whom  they 
were  to  maintain,  and  sent  to  prison;  and  others  taken 
travelling  on  the  king's  highway,  about  their  lawful 
occasions,  and  committed  to  prison,  contrary  to  law 
and  the  king's  proclamation.  Now  if  you  make  a  law 
to  cause  us  to  sulFer  for  our  peaceable  meetings,  how 
much  more  will  rude  and  lawless  persons  thereby  take 
encouragement,  to  act  their  cruelty  and  persecution 
against  us,  botli  beyond  and  contrary  to  what  the  law 
requires;  arid  it  is  not  your  intended  law,  that  will  sa- 
tisfy that  malicious  spirit. 

" '  These  things  1  leave  to  your  serious  considera- 
tion.' 

"  Having  not  a  particular  or  full  account  in  writing 
what  my  friends  Edward  Burrough  and  ilichard  Hub- 
berthorn,  declared  to  that  committee,  I  cannot  insert 
the  same  with  mine;  but  I  remember  the  last  time  we 
were  before  the  committee,  Edward  Burrough  told 
them  to  this  purport:  '  That  if  they  made  a  law  against 
our  religious  meetings,  he  should  esteem  it  his  duty  to 
exhort  our  Friends  to  keep  their  meetings  diligently.' 

"  Notwithstanding  what  is  before  related,  to  the 
said  committee  against  the  bill,  they  went  forward 
being  intent  upon  it,  in  order  to  make  their  report  to 
the  whole  House;  and  we  being  given  to  understand 
what  day  the  bill  was  to  be  read  in  the  House,  were 
concerned  to  attend  that  day;  and  to  endeavour  to  ob- 
tain leave  to  be  heard  in  the  House,  before  it  was  pass- 
ed into  an  act. 


164  MEMOIRS    OF 

"  The  day  appointed,  being  the  19th  of  the  5th 
month,  called  July,  1661,  Edward  Burrough,  Richard 
Hubberthorn,  and  myself,  vvitli  Edward  Pyott  of  Bris- 
tol, who  had  been  a  captain,  went  to  the  Parliament 
House,  and  spake  to  some  of  the  members,  whom  we 
knew  were  friendly  to  us,  to  move  for  our  admittance 
to  be  heard  in  the  House,  before  the  bill  was  passed ; 
for  which  we  gave  them  in  writing,  a  proposal  to  this 
purpose,  viz. :  '  That  we  desired  to  have  the  liberty 
that  criminals  are  allowed ;  that  is,  if  they  have  any 
thing  to  say  or  offer  in  court,  why  sentence  should  not 
pass  against  them,  they  may  be  heard ;  so  we  desire 
that  we  may  be  heard,  what  we  have  to  say  why  the 
said  bill  ought  not  to  pass  against  us.' 

"  Whereupon  a  motion  being  made  in  the  House, 
and  leave  given  that  we  might  be  called  in  and  heard, 
accordingly  we  were  forthwith  called  in  before  the  bar 
of  the  House  of  Commons ;  there  being  a  full  house, 
and  all  in  a  quiet  posture  ready  to  hear  what  we  had 
to  offer. 

"  As  Edward  Burrough  began  to  plead  in  vindication 
of  the  Quakers'  meetings,  on  occasion  of  the  bill  before 
them,  against  the  same,  some  of  the  members  said  to 
him;  'You  must  direct  your  speech  to  Mr.  Speaker.' 
He  told  them,  he  would.  The  point  he  chiefly  insisted 
upon  was,  '  that  our  meetings  were  no  ways  to  the  ter- 
ror of  the  people,  as  was  suggested  in  the  preamble  of 
the  bill ;  but  peaceable,  innocent  meetings,  only  for  the 
worship  and  service  of  Almighty  God,  and  as  we  are 
required  by  the  law  of  God,  placed  in  our  hearts  and 
consciences,  which  they  ought  not  to  make  any  law 
against.  No  human  law  ought  to  be  made  contrary  to 
the  law  of  God;  for  if  they  did  make  any  such  law,  it 
would  not  be  binding  to  us  to  disobey  the  law  of  God.' 
For  which  he  mentioned  and  quoted  that  ancient  law 
book,  *  Doctor  and  Student,'  which  he  had  then  in  his 
hand ;  where,  treating  of  the  law  of  God,  the  law  of 
reason,  &c.  written  in  the  heart  of  man,  it  is  said ;  '  Be- 
cause it  is  written  in  the  heart,  it  may  not  be  put 


G.    WHITEHEAD.  165 

away,  neither  is  it  'ever  changeable  by  diversity  of 
place  nor  time ;  and  therefore  against  this  law,  pre- 
scription, statute,  or  custom  may  not  prevail ;  and  if 
any  be  brought  in  against  it,  they  be  not  prescriptions, 
statutes,  nor  customs,  but  things  void  and  against  jus- 
tice.' 

'*  Wherefore  Edward  Burrough  told  them :  '  That  if 
they  made  such  a  law  against  our  meetings,  which  are 
appointed  for  the  worship  of  God,  it  would  be  contrary 
to  the  law  of  God  and  void,  or  ought  to  be  void,  ipso 
facto.' 

"  This  was  the  import  or  substance  of  what  Edward 
Burrough  pleaded  to  the  House  at  that  time. 

"  And  what  Richard  Hubberthorn  pleaded  and  ar- 
gued, was  upon  this  point,  viz, :  '  It  being  suggested 
that  we  being  numerous,  and  holding  a  close  or  strict 
correspondence  among  ourselves,  our  meetings  might 
be  the  more  dangerous,  to  contrive  and  cause  insurrec- 
tions, &-C.  as  is  implied  in  the  preamble  of  the  bill.' 

"  To  which  Richard  Hubberthorn  gave  a  fair  and 
ingenuous  answer  :  *  That  there  could  be  no  such  dan- 
ger in  our  meetings,  as  the  contrivance  of  insurrections 
or  plots  against  the  government ;  for  our  meetings  be- 
ing public,  where  all  sorts  of  people  may  resort,  and 
come  to  hear  and  see  what  is  said  or  done,  it  is  not  like- 
ly nor  probable,  we  should  plot  or  contrive  insurrec- 
tions in  them,  in  the  sight  of  the  whole  world.  And  if 
our  meetings  should  be  reduced  into  such  small  num- 
bers, as  but  four  or  five  persons  besides  those  of  the 
family,  it  could  not  break  our  correspondence ;  but  we 
should  have  more  opportunity  privately  to  correspond, 
and  to  plot  and  contrive  insurrection  or  mischief,  if  we 
were  a  people  of  such  bad  principles,  or  so  evilly  prin- 
cipled, which  we  are  not.  Therefore  it  is  most  reason- 
able to  sufTer  our  meetings  to  be  public  as  they  are, 
and  not  to  punish  us  on  causeless  suspicion  of  danger, 
when  there  appears  no  reason  for  the  same ;  nor  to 
make  a  law  to  limit  them  to  small  numbers.' 

"  George  Whitehead  then  said  :  '  We  desire  you  in 


166  MEMOIRS  OF 

the  fear  of  the  T>ord,  to  consider  lis,  as  we  are,  an  in- 
nocent and  sutfering  people,  and  have  been  so  under 
the  several  governments,  since  we  v^'ere  a  people;  as 
our  patience  and  innocency  towards  our  persecutors,  in 
all  our  sufferings,  have  plainly  nnanifested;  for  both 
under  Oliver  Cromwell  and  since  his  days,  have  we 
endured  much  hard  suffering,  persecution,  and  impri- 
sonment, for  our  conscience ;  and  yet  we  have  not 
rebelled,  nor  sought  revenge  against  our  persecutors  ; 
but  in  all  our  undeserved  sufferings,  have  committed 
our  cause  to  the  Lord. 

"  '  And  therefore,  what  an  unreasonable  thing  is  it, 
that  a  law  shodid  particularly  be  made  against  us, 
when  we  have  done  no  evil,  nor  any  injury  against  any 
man's  person  ;  nor  could  any  such  thing  be  proved 
against  us,  in  respect  to  our  meetings,  that  ever  we 
were  found  guilty  of;  so  that  for  you  to  make  a  law 
against  us,  tending  to  our  ruin,  and  to  go  about  to  tram« 
pie  us  underfoot,  when  we  are  innocent  and  peaceable 
in  the  nation,  and  no  matter  of  fact  worthy  of  suffering 
proved  against  us  ;  will  neither  be  to  the  honour  of  the 
king,  nor  add  any  thing  to  your  security. 

"  *  Nay,  what  a  hard  thing  is  it,  for  you  to  make  a 
law  to  add  afflictions  and  sad  sufferings  upon  us,  when 
there  are  divers  laws  already,  whereby  we  are  liable  to 
suffer,  as  those  for  tithes,  oaths,  and  others ;  so  that  to 
make  another  law  to  afHict  us,  when  nothing  worthy  of 
suffering  is  proved,  seems  to  us  very  hard  and  unrea- 
sonable. 

"  'And  moreover  we  have  neither  forfeited  our  liber- 
ties, nor  abused  the  king's  indulgence,  in  any  thing 
acted  by  us.  And  the  king  having  promised  liberty  to 
tender  consciences,  on  condition  they  do  not  disturb  the 
peace  of  the  kingdom,  and  we  not  having  forfeited  our 
interest  therein,  therefore  ought  not  to  be  hindered  of 
our  liberty,  in  matters  of  worship  and  conscience  to- 
wards God.  We  can  prove  that  our  practice  of  assem- 
bling ourselves  together,  and  our  principles  also,  are 
grounded  upon  the  righteous  law  of  God,  and  agree- 


G.    WHITEUEAD.  167 

able  to  Christ's  doctrine;  and  we  are  willing  to  vindi- 
cate and  demonstrate  tlienri,  according  to  'J'rutli,  if  we 
might  have  liberty  here;  and  that  for  the  satisfaction 
of  such  as  oppose  or  scruple  them. 

"  *  In  the  fear  of  the  Lord  consider  what  you  are 
doing,  and  seek  not  farther  to  add  atfliction  to  us,  lest 
you  oppress  the  innocent.  However  if  we  sutler,  we 
shall  commit  our  cause  to  the  Lord  our  God,  who  will, 
no  doubt,  plead  it  against  our  oppressors.' 

"  Aftei-  lulward  Burrough,  Richard  IJubbcrthorn.and 
George  VViiitehead*  had  declaied  to  the  House  of  Com- 
mons, according  as  before  related;  Edward  l^yott  was 
also  perm  tted  to  speak  a  few  words  to  them,  which  he 
very  weightily  did  on  this  subject;  namelv,  reminding 
them  of  that  golden  rule,  which  Jesus  Christ  has  laid 
down  and  requires  us  all  to  observe,  which  is:  'To  do 
to  all  men  as  we  would  be  willing  they  should  do  unto 
us;'  thereupon  cautioning  them,  that  as  they  would 
not  be  persecuted,  oppressed  or  made  to  sutler  for  their 
religion  or  conscience,  or  have  a  law  made  for  that 
purpose  against  them  :  tio  more  ought  they  to  make  a 
law  against  us,  to  punish  us  for  worshi|)ping  God  ac- 
cording to  our  consciences  or  inward  pei'suasions.  This 
matter  Edward  Pyott  pressingly  urged  to  them. 

"We  appeared  and  declared  what  was  upon  our 
minds,  in  great  simplicity  and  sincerity  ;  and  the  i^ord's 
power  and  presence  Wi's  with  us,  and  helped  us  in  our 
endeavours;  and  I  saw  clearly,  that  what  we  declared 
innocently  to  them,  had  some  etfect  upon  and  reached 
the  consciences  of  divers  of  the  members,  who  appeared 
serious  and  also  sol)er  in  their  carriage  toward  us.  For 
I  afterward  had  intimation,  that  some  of  the  n^embers 
did  confess,  that  what  we  had  declared  was  very  rea- 
sonable; and  if  they  had  feared  God  or  regarded  his 
counsel,  and  suH'ered  Him  to  rule  among  them,  they 
would  not  have  made  that  act  against  us. 

*  Geo.  Wliilehcad  was  at  this  time  about  twenty  four  years  of 
age. 


168  MEMOIKS    OF 

"  But  we  had  only  a  very  few  in  that  Parliament, 
who  appeared  openly  to  be  our  friends ;  or  friends  for 
liberty  to  tender  consciences  in  those  days ;  namely, 
Edmund  Waller,  sen.  esq.  who  was  termed,  Wit  Wal- 
ler ;  he  was  principled  against  persecution,  and  for 
liberty  of  conscience,  and  always  kind  to  us ;  and  one 
Michael  Mallett,  esq.  who  afterward  was  convinced  of 
the  Truth ;  and  frequented  our  meetings  even  in  suf- 
fering times,  when  our  meetings  were  kept  out  of  doors 
in  the  streets,  in  Westminster  and  London.  And  Sir 
John  Vaughan,  then  a  young  man,  appeared  also  for  us ; 
and  afterward  was  convinced  of  the  Truth,  and  went 
to  our  meetings  when  we  were  persecuted  upon  the 
conventicle  act,  and  was  imprisoned  in  Newgate  with 
our  Friends,  for  a  little  time,  being  taken  at  a  meeting 
at  Mile-end.  He  continued  afterward  among  our 
Friends,  and  visited  us  in  prison  ;  and  though  at  length 
some  of  his  relations  drew  him  aside,  to  his  great  pre- 
judice, yet  he  retained  a  kindness  even  when  he  came 
to  be  Earl  of  Carbery ;  and  continued  friendly  to  us, 
when  he  was  an  old  man  and  until  his  latter  end  ;  not 
wholly  forgetting  what  conviction  and  knowledge  of 
the  Truth  he  received  when  among  us. 

"  There  were  also  some  few  more  of  the  members  of 
that  Parliament  friendly  towards  us  at  that  time,  when 
we  appeared  before  them.  Howbeit  the  majority  be- 
ing resolved  and  bent  to  persecution,  they  passed  the 
said  bill  into  an  act:  upon  which  great  persecution 
and  imprisonments  followed.* 

*  Neal,  in  his  history  of  the  Puritans,  speaking  of  this  circum- 
stance says  :  "  Among  others  who  were  obnoxious  to  the  ministry 
were  Quakers,  who  having  declared  openly  the  unlawfulness  of 
making  use  of  carnal  weapons  even  in  self  defence,  had  the  courage 
to  petition  the  house  of  lords  for  a  toleration  of  their  religion,  and 
for  a  dispensation  from  taking  the  oaths  which  they  held  unlawful, 
not  from  any  disatfcction  to  the  government,  or  a  belief  that  they 
were  less  obliged  by  an  affirmation,  but  from  a  persuasion  that  all 
oaths  were  unlawful ;  and  that  swearing  upon  the  most  solemn 
occasions  was  forbidden  in   the  New  Testament.     The  lords  in  a 


G.    WHITEHEAD.  169 

committee  rejected  their  petition,  and  instead  of  granting  them  re- 
lief, passed  an  act,  which  had  a  dreadful  influence  upon  that  people, 
though  it  was  notorious  they  were  far  from  sedition  or  disaffection 
to  the  government."  After  mentioning  the  suffering  state  of  the 
Quakers  at  this  time,  he  truly  adds  :  "  But  this  was  but  the  begin- 
ning of  sorrows."     Vol.  ii.  p.  511  and  512. 


VOL.  1. 


(   170  ) 


SECTION  IX. 

George  Whitehead's  own  account  of  persecutions  in  London  in 
1662  to  1664 — An  act  to  prevent  and  suppress  seditious  conven- 
ticles— Persecution  in  London  1665 — He  visits  the  northern 
counties,  &c.  and  returns  to  London — Remains  there  during  the 
plague. 

*  "  In  the  year  1662,  our  meetings  in  and  about 
London  were  broken  up  by  force  and  violence,  by  the 

*  We  cannot  have  too  strongly  impressed  upon  our  minds,  the 
eacrifices  made  by  our  early  friends  for  those  principles  and  prac- 
tices which  we  now  profess  and  pursue  in  peace  and  credit.  I  shall 
therefore  insert  here  a  few  more  particulars  wliich  Goorge  White- 
head does  not  furnish,  from  the  faithful  annalist  of  the  Society, 
Sewel  :  "A  little  before  this  time  there  was  published  in  print,  a 
short  relation  of  the  persecution  throughout  all  England,  signed 
by  twelve  persons,  showing  that  more  than  four  thousand  two  hun- 
dred of  those  called  Qjakers,  both  men  and  women,  were  in  pri- 
son in  England;  and  denoting  the  number  of  them  that  were  im- 
prisoned in  each  county,  either  for  Ircquenting  meetings,  or  for  de- 
nying to  swear,  &c.  Many  of  these  had  been  grievously  beaten,  or 
their  clothes  torn  or  taken  away  from  them;  and  some  were  put 
into  such  stinking  dungeons,  that  some  great  men  said,  they 
would  not  have  put  their  hunting  dogs  there.  ^  ome  prisons  were 
crowded  full  both  of  men  and  women,  so  that  there  was  not  suf- 
ficient room  for  all  to  sit  down  at  once;  and  in  Cheshire,  sixty- 
eight  persons  were  in  this  manner  locked  up  in  a  small  room  ;  an 
evident  sign  that  they  were  a  harmless  people,  that  would  nei- 
ther make  any  resistance,  nor  use  any  lorce. 

"  By  such  ill  treatment  many  grew  sick  ;  and  not  a  few  died  in 
such  gaols  ;  for  no  age  or  sex  was  regarded  ;  but  even  ancient  peo- 
ple of  sixty,  seventy,  and  more  years  of  age,  were  not  spared  :  and 
the  most  of  these  being  tradesmen,  shop-keepers,  and  husband- 
men, were  thus  reduced  to  poverty;  for  their  goods  were  alsoseiz- 
for  not  going  to  church,  or  for  not  paying  tithes. 

"  Many  times  they  were  fain  to  be  in  prison,  on  cold,  nasty  ground, 
without  being  suffered  to  have  any  straw,  and  often  they  have 
been  kept  several  days  without  victuals  :  no  wonder  therefore,  that 
many  died  by  such  hard  iini)risonrnent8  as  these. 

"  In  London,  and  in  the  suburbs,  were,  about  this  time,  no  less 
than  five  hundred  of  those  railed  Quakers  imprisoned  ;  and  some 
in  Buch  narrow  holes,  that  every   person  scarcely  had  convenience 


MEMOIRH,   d:;c.  171 

trained  bands  and  ofticers;  especially  on  the  First 
days  of  the  week;  which  thouf^h  professed  to  be 
their  Christian  Sabbaths,  no  holiness  was  observed, 
but  rending  and  tearing  innocent  people  out  of  their 
religious  assennblies,  and  haling  them  to  prison  :  such 
furious  work  of  persecution  they  commonly  wrought  on 
that  day  they  pretend  to  be  their  Christian  Sabbath, 
and  the  Lord's  day,  and  to  be  kept  holy,  &.c.  as  Israel 
was  required  to  observe  and  keep  the  Seventh-day 
for  the  Sabbath,  according  to  the  fourth  commandment. 
Yet  these  our  persecutors  made  no  conscience  of  viola- 
ting and  profaning  their  professed  Sabbath;  by  such 
their  works  of  violence  and  persecution,  yea,  even  after 
an  act  of  Parliament  was  made,  for  the  better  observa- 
tion of  the  Lord's  day.  Those  self-condemned  pretended 
Christians,  in  many  places  furiously  went  on  in  their 
persecution  and  cruelty,  against  their  fellow-creatures 
and  honest  neighbours,  without  regard  to  God,  or  reli- 
gious worship,  or  any  day  ;  to  the  great  reproach  and 
scandal  of  the  profession  of  Christianity. 

to  lie  down  ;  and  the  felons  were  suffered  to  rob  them  of  their 
elothes  and  money. 

"  Many  that  were  not  imprisoned,  nevertheless  suffered  hard- 
ships in  their  religious  meetings,  especially  that  in  London,  known 
by  the  name  of  Bull  and  Mouth.  Hero  the  trained  band  came  fre- 
quently, armed  generally  with  muskets,  pikes,  and  halbards,  and 
conducted  by  a  military  officer,  by  order  of  the  cily  magistracy; 
and  rushing  in,  in  a  very  furious  manner,  fell  to  beating  them, 
whereby  many  were  grievously  wounded,  fell  down  in  a  swoon, 
and  some  were  beaten  so  violently,  that  they  lived  not  long  after 
it:'— Seicel  2  vol.  Ilk  Book,  p.  \   and  2- 

Nor,  in  these  disastrous  days  were  the  persecuted  Quakers  se- 
cure in  their  private  dwellings,  "  for  when  some  persons  were  seen 
to  enter  a  house  though  it  was  only  to  visit  tlieir  friends  it  was 
called  a  meeting.  It  happened  in  one  house,  that  these  rude  fel- 
lows, (musketeers,)  found  five  persons  together  one  of  whom  was 
William  Ames,  who  was  come  thither  out  of  Holland;  and  ano- 
ther was  Samuel  Fisher,  and  when  it  was  demanded  what  war- 
rant they  had,  they  held  up  their  swords,  and  said:  '  Do  not  ask 
us  for  a  warrant ;  this  is  our  warrant ;'  and  thereupon  they  took 
these  persons  to  Paul's  yard,  where  they  were  a  laughing  stock  to 
the  soldiers,  and  thence  to  alderman  Brown,  who  sent  them  to 
Bridewell  to  be  kept  to  hard  labour."  p.  10. 


172  MEMOIRS    OF 

"  Pursuant  to  the  aforesaid  act,  as  was  pretended, 
my  beloved  brethren  Richard  Hubberthorn,  and  Ed- 
ward Burrough,  with  myself,  and  many  more  of  our 
faithful  Friends,  were  haled  out  of  meetings,  and  im- 
prisoned in  Newgate,  London ;  where  so  many  of  us 
were  crowded  together  both  in  that  called  justice  hall 
side,  and  in  the  chapel  side  of  the  prison,  that  we  were 
hard  put  to  it  for  lodging  room. 

"  The  chapel  was  on  the  top  of  Newgate,  where  ma- 
ny Friends  lay  in  hammocks  crowded  ;  and  Richard 
Hubberthorn  and  I  lay  on  a  small  pallet  bed,  in  a  lit- 
tle hole  or  closet  behind  the  chapel  and  opening  into 
it  so  as  the  breath  and  steam  of  those  that  lay  next  us 
in  the  chapel,  came  much  upon  us.  We  chose  to  lodge 
on  the  chapel  side,  for  the  encouragement  of  many  of 
the  poorer  sort  of  Friends,  who  were  there,  and  that 
they  might  not  be  offended  or  troubled,  as  we  thought 
they  might,  if  we  had  taken  up  our  lodging  among  the 
richer  sort  of  our  friends,  on  justice  hall  side.  We  had  ma- 
ny good  meetings  in  the  chapel ;  and  the  Lord  was  with 
us  to  our  great  comfort  and  encouragement,  in  his  name 
and  Power,  for  whose  sake  we  suffered  patiently. 

"  It  being  in  summer  time  and  a  hot  season,  when 
we  were  thus  crowded  in  prison,  some  of  our  friends 
fell  sick  of  a  violent  fever,  whereof  some  died;  and 
were  viewed  by  the  coroner's  inquest :  and  when  some 
were  removed  out  of  prison  by  reason  of  sickness,  they 
quickly  ended  their  days,  after  their  close  confinement. 

"  In  those  days  of  hot  persecution.  Sir  Richard 
Brown  *  was  chief  persecutor  in  London  and  gloried 

*  "In  the  time  of  Cromwell,"  says  Sewel,  "  Brown  had  been  a 
major  general  in  the  army,  and  was  very  fierce  against  the  Royal- 
ists at  Abingdon  not  far  from  Oxford  ;  and  for  this  error  he  endea- 
Toured  to  make  compensation,  by  violently  persecuting  the  harm- 
less Quakers.  He  was  a  comely  man,  and  could  commit  cruelty 
with  a  smiling  countenance."  His  personal  cruelty  to  the  priso- 
ners who  were  brought  before  him,  surpasses  the  ordinary  actings 
even  of  those  days.  The  following  may  servo  as  a  speciraeu 
of  his  frequent  conduct. 


O.    WHITEHEAD. 


173 


much  in  his  persecuting  and  imprisoning  our  Friends  ; 
insulting  over  them.  One  time  when  several  of  us 
were  called  into  the  court  of  sessions  in  the  Old  Bailey, 
one  Friend  was  moved  to  testify  against  their  persecu- 
ting and  oppressing  the  righteous  seed  and  people  of 
God,  calling  out  unto  the  magistrates  on  the  bench  : 
*  How  long  will  ye  oppress  the  righteous  seed,'  &.c. 
with  other  words,  on  the  same  subject.  While  he  was 
so  speaking,  the  said  Sir  Richard  Brown  in  derision, 


"Some  soldiers  came  to  a  meeting  in  Tower  street,  and  without 
anj  warrant  took  away  twenty-one  persons  called  Quakers,  and 
carried  them  to  the  exchange  ;  where  tliey  kept  them  some  time, 
and  then  brouirlit  them  before  Richard  Brown,  wlio,  in  a  most  fu- 
rious manner,  struck  some,  and  kicked  others;  which  made  one  of 
the  prisoners,  seeing  how  Brown  smote  one  with  his  fist,  and  kick- 
ed him  on  the  shin,  say  :  '  What,  Richard,  wilt  thou  turn  murder- 
er !  Thou  didst  not  do  so  when  I  was  a  soldier  under  thy  command 
at  Abingdon  ;  when  thou  commandedst  me  and  others  to  search 
people's  houses  for  pies  and  roast  meat,  because  they  kept  Christ- 
mas as  a  holy  time,  and  we  brought  the  persons  prisoners  to  the 
guard  for  observing  the  same.'  One  of  Brown's  family  hearing 
what  was  said  to  him,  replied  :  'There  is  an  Abingdon  bird  ;'  to 
which  Brown  replied  :  '  He  is  a  rogue  for  all  that ;'  and  struck 
him  with  his  fist  under  the  chin  ;  which  made  another  prisoner 
say:  '  What,  a  magistrate  and  strike?'  upon  which  Brown,  with 
both  his  liands  pulled  him  down  to  the  ground,  and  then  com- 
manded the  soldiers  to  carry  them  to  Newgate." 

When  he  did  not  thus  use  his  own  hands,  he  very  frequently 
ordered  the  officers  ofthe  court  to  abuse  the  prisoners;  so  that  the 
spectators  have  called  out  'murder  1'  One  John  Brain  being  taken 
in  the  street,  and  not  in  any  meeting,  was  brought  by  some  soldiers 
before  Brown,  who  seeing  him  with  his  hat  on,  ordered  him  to  be 
pulled  down  to  the  ground  six  or  seven  times  ;  and  when  he  was 
down  they  beat  his  liead  against  the  ground  and  stamped  upon 
liim  ;  and  Brown,  like  a  madman  bade  them  pull  off  his  nose  ; 
whereupon  they  violently  pulled  him  by  the  nose.  And  when  he 
was  got  up,  they  pulled  him  to  the  ground  by  the  hair  of  his  head  ; 
and  then  by  the  hair  pulled  him  up  again.  And  when  he  would 
have  spoken  in  his  own  behalf  against  this  cruelty.  Brown  bade 
them  stop  his  mouth  ;  whereupon  they  not  only  struck  him  on  the 
mouth,  but  stopped  iiis  mouth  and  nose,  so  close  that  lie  could  not 
draw  breath  ;  and  was  liked  to  be  choaked  :  at  whicli  Brown  fell  a 
laughing,  and  at  length  sent  him  to  gaol." 

Notwithstanding  the  notorious  conduct  of  this  wicked  magis- 
trate, he  was  a  favourite  at  court,  and  was  knighted  ! 

2  p 


174  MBMOIKS    OP 

began  to  sing  like  the  women  that  cry  kitchen  stuff 
and  Wall-Fleet  oysters  up  and  down  the  streets  of 
London  :  '  IJa  you  any  kitchen  sluff',  maids  ?  Ha  you  any 
kitchen  stuff",  maids  ?  Hey,  Wall-Fleet  oysters  ;  will  you 
buy  any  Wall-Fleet  oysters  ?  Will  you  buy  any  Wall- 
Fleet  oysters  ?  S^rc. 

"  Many  of  us  were  connmitted  for  three  months  impri- 
sonment in  Newgate,  being  our  first  commitment  upon 
the  aforesaid  act ;  and  before  the  time  of  that  injprison- 
ment  was  expired,  my  dear  friend  and  brother  Richard 
Hubberthorn  was  taken  sick  and  died  ;  and  also  our 
dear  brother  Edward  Burrough,  who  was  detained  pri- 
soner after  I  was  released,  was  also  taken  sick  of  a  fe- 
ver, and  died  ;  so  the  Lord  pleased  by  death  to  release 
both  these  my  dear  brethren,  companions,  and  fellow 
labourers  in  the  Gospel  of  Christ  Jesus  ;  whose  deaths 
were  lamented  by  many  tender  Friends,  respecting  the 
great  service  which  they  had  done  in  their  day. 

"  And  though  I  had  a  full  share  in  suffering  with  my 
friends  and  brethren,  in  those  days  of  hot  persecution  ; 
and  was  carried  through  such  imprisonments  and  suf- 
ferings as  ended  the  days  of  several,  yet  my  days  have 
been  lengthened  much  beyond  my  expectation ;  inso- 
much that  1  have  been  ready  humbly  to  enquire, 
'  Lord,  for  what  end  am  I  so  long  spared  alive,  and  my 
days  prolonged,  when  so  many  of  thy  faithful  servants 
are  removed  ?'  Whereupon  he  has  showed  me,  that 
my  trials  and  service  in  his  Church  and  for  his  people, 
were  not  yet  finished ;  and  he  has  often  made  me  sen- 
sible of  his  merciful  providence,  in  my  preservation 
through  many  trials  and  exercises;  being  supported 
by  the  word  of  faith,  and  of  his  patience,  in  the  king- 
dom and  patience  of  our  blessed  Lord  and  Saviour  Jesus 
Christ ;  to  whom  be  glory  and  dominion  for  ever  and 
ever.  O!  my  soul,  praise  thou  the  Lord,  my  Life,  my 
Strength,  and  my  Salvation  ;  and  let  all  that  is  within 
me  bless  his  Holy  Name! 

"  In  those  days  of  hot  persecution,  it  was  observable 
how  furious  some  of  the  judges  were  against  our 
Friends,  when  brought  prisoners  into  court,  and  they 


O.    WHITEHEAD.  175 

wanted  evidence  of  matter  of  fact  against  thenti  upon 
trial ;  and  some  of  our  Friends  not  answering  interro- 
gatories to  accuse  themselves,  but  asking  for  their  ac- 
cusers. Some  of  the  judges  would  use  the  words  ; 
•Sirrah!  sirrah!  you  are  an  impudent  fellow;  leave 
your  canting,' &-C.  threatening  them  with  severe  me- 
naces, and  frowning  on,  or  brow-beating  them ;  much 
unbecoming  a  justice  or  judge,  who  ought  to  be  indifTe- 
rent,  and  impartial,  to  do  equal  justice  and  right,  with- 
out premeditation  or  partiality  against  any  person. 

"The  said  act  against  Quakers,  to  fine,  imprison, 
and  transport  them  out  of  the  land  for  not  swearing,  or 
for  their  religious  meetings,  did  not  satisfy  those  rigid 
persecutors,  when  they  had  made  trial  thereof;  the 
process  thereupon,  to  three  months  and  six  months  im- 
prisonment, &,c.  before  it  came  to  transportation  or  ba- 
nishment, was  too  slow  and  dilatory  a  procedure  to  an- 
swer their  invidious  designs.  They  could  not  thereby 
so  expeditiously  rid  the  land  of  us  as  they  would;  and" 
therefore,  in  a  short  time,  they  procured  another  en- 
gine to  shorten  their  work  against  us,  to  wit,  another 
act,  entitled,  '  JJn  act  to  prevent  and  suppress  seditious 
conventicles,''  16  Car.  2  cap.  4.  Of  which  act,  and  the 
administration  thereof,  some  account  may  be  given 
hereafter." 


George  Whitehead  next  gives  a  relation  of  his  im- 
prisonment with  divers  other  Friends,  in  the  White 
Lion  prison  in  Southwark,  for  assembling  together  in 
the  worship  and  service  of  Almighty  God,  and  of  their 
usage  and  treatment  in  prison  ;  which,  as  he  observes, 
shows  the  manner  in  which  Friends  were  treated  in 
those  days,  for  innocent  religious  meetings.* 

*  Tlie  treatment  of  Friends  in  those  days — their  zeal  in  the  sup- 
port of  what  they  behcved  to  be  right,  and  their  constancy  in  suf- 
fering for  the  testimony  of  a  good  conscience,  are  so  strikingly  set 
forth  in  the  following  extract  from  Sewel,  that  I  venture  to  intro- 
duce it,  lliough  the  work  may  be  easy  of  reference  to  mosi  readers, 
tt  adds  another  to  the   many  examples  proving    the  impolicy  of 


176  MEMOIRS    OF 

"  Upon  the  3rd  day  of  the  5th  month,  1664,  being 
the  first  day  of  the  week,  our  Friends  were  peaceably 
met  together  at  their  usual  meeting  place  at  Horsly- 
down  ;  according  to  their  wonted  manner,  waiting  upon 

persecution,  and  that  the  Church  when  in  spiritual  health,  flourish- 
es under  the  fiercest  trials. 

"  Oftentimes,"  says  this  faithful  annalist,  "  they  were  kept  out 
of  their  meeting  houses  by  the  soldiers ;  but  then  they  did  not  use 
to  go  away,  but  stood  before  the  place  ;  and  so  their  number  soon 
increased;  and  then  some  one  or  other  of  their  ministers  generally 
stept  on  a  bench,  or  some  high  place,  and  so  preached  boldly. 
Thus  he  got  more  hearers  than  he  otherwise  would  have  had.  But 
such  an  one  sometimes  was  soon  pulled  down,  which  then  gave 
occasion  for  another  to  stand  up  and  speak;  and  thus  four  or  five, 
one  after  another,  were  taken  away  as  innocent  sheep,  and  carried 
to  prison  with  other  of  their  Friends,  it  may  be  forty  or  fifty  at  once. 

"  Tile  keeping  of  meetings  in  the  streets  became  now  a  custom- 
ary thing  in  Kngland  ;  for  the  Quakers,  so  called,  were  persuaded 
that  the  exercise  of  their  public  worship,  was  a  duty  no  man  could 
discharge  them  from ;  and  they  believed  that  God  required  the 
performing  of  this  service  from  their  hands.  And  by  thus  meeting 
in  the  streets,  it  happened  sometimes  that  more  than  one,  nay.  it 
may  be  three  or  four  at  a  time,  did  preach  one  in  one  place,  and 
another  in  another;  which  in  their  meeting  places  could  not  have 
been  conveniently  done.  Thus  they  got  abundance  of  auditors, 
and  among  those  sometimes  eminent  men,  who  passing  by  in  their 
coaches,  made  their  coachmen  slop. 

"  [n  this  state  they  found  a  great  harvest,  and  thus  their  Church 
increased  under  suffering ;  and  in  those  sharp  times  they  were 
pretty  well  purified  of  dross  ;  since  the  trial  was  too  hot  for  such 
as  were  not  sincere  ;  for  by  frefjuenling  their  meetings  in  such  a 
time,  one  was  in  danger  of  being  either  imprisoned,  or  beaten 
lame,  or  unto  death  ;  but  this  could  not  quench  the  zeal  of  the  up- 
right. 

"  Now  the  taking  away  of  one  preacher,  and  the  standing  up 
of  another,  became  an  ordinary  tiling  in  England;  and  it  lasted 
yet  long  after,  as  I  myself  have  been  an  eye  witness  of  there.  And 
when  there  were  no  more  men  preachers  present,  it  may  be  a  wo- 
man would  rise,  and  minister  to  the  meeting  ;  nay,  there  were  such, 
who  in  3'ears  being  little  more  than  boys,  were  endued  with  a  man- 
ly zeal,  and  encouraged  their  friends  to  steadfastness."/?.  5. 

"  Nor  did  the  soldiers  respect  age,  (as  specified  by  the  law,)  but 
took  out  of  a  meeting  at  Mile-end  two  boys,  one  about  thirteen  and 
the  other  about  sixteen,  and  they  were  brought  before  the  lieute- 
nant of  the  tower,  who  to  one  present,  saying,  he  supposed  they 
were  not  of  the  age  of  sixteen,  and  therefore  not  punishable  by  the 
act,  replied  ;  '  Tliey  were  old  enough  to  be  whipt,  and  they  should 


G.    WHITEHBAD.  177 

the  Lord  in  his  fear.  And  after  some  time,  George 
"Whitehead  spake  to  the  assembly  by  way  of  exhorta- 
tion, to  truth  and  righteousness.  In  the  interim,  a  com- 
pany of  soldiers  with  muskets  and  lighted  matches  in 
their  hands,  rushed  in  ;  and  before  they  came  into  the 
inner  door,  one  of  them  fired  a  musket :  and  two  of  them 
violently  pulled  George  Whitehead  down,  and  haled 
him  and  some  others  out  of  the  meeting,  and  carried 
themselves  very  rudely ;  pushing  and  threatening  our 
Friends,  forcing  many  out  of  the  meeting,  and  raging 
at  and  pushing  women  when  they  came  near  their  hus- 
bands, whom  they  had  taken  into  custody.  And  George 
Whitehead  asking  them  to  show  their  warrant  for  what 
they  did,  a  soldier  held  up  his  musket  over  his  head 
and  said,  that  was  his  warrant. 

"  Then  both  men  and  women  whose  names  were  in 
the  mittimus  with  several  more,  some  whereof  they  took 
near  the  meeting-house  door  and  others  in  the  street, 
were  had  to  the  main  guard  on  Margaret's  Hill ;  where 
they  kept  them  for  some  time,  until  those  called  justices 
came ;  wlio  asked  our  Friends,  whether  they  were  at 
the  meeting  aforesaid  ;  to  which  answer  was  made, 
that  they  desired  to  hear  what  evidence  came  against 
them  ;  for  some  were  taken  in  the  street,  and  not  at  all 
in  the  meeting.  But  they  put  it  upon  George  White- 
head to  confess,  if  he  was  not  present  at  the  meeting? 
To  which  he  answered,  what  evidence  have  you  against 
me,  and  1  shall  answer  further?  Whereupon  some  of 
the  soldiers  were  called  to  give  evidence  concerning 

be  vvhipl  out  of  their  religion.'  And  so  he  sent  them  to  Bridewell, 
where  tlieir  hands  were  put  into  the  stocks,  and  so  pinched  for  the 
space  of  two  hours,  that  their  wrists  were  much  swollen.  This 
was  done  hecause  they  refused  to  work,  as  being  persuaded  they 
had  not  deserved  to  be  treated  so  ;  tlioy  also  eat  nothing  at  the 
expense  of  the  house. 

"  These  lads  though  pretty  long  in  that  prison,  yet  continued 
steadfast,  rejoicing  they  were  counted  worthy  to  suffer  for  the 
Name  of  the  Lord  ;  and  they  wrote  a  letter  to  their  Friends' 
children,  exhorting  them  to  be  faitiiful  in  bearing  their  testimo- 
ny for  the  Lord,  against  all  wickedness  and  unrighteousness." 
p.  8. 


178  MEMOIRS    OP 

him,  and  the  rest  with  him :  they  witnessed,  that  he 
was  taken  in  the  meetin^^-house,  speaking  to  the  peo- 
ple ;  wliich  was  all  the  evidence  that  was  given  against 
him. 

"  George  Whitehead  excepted  against  the  soldiers, 
as  being  incompetent  witnesses;  for  they  came,  said  he, 
in  a  rude  and  inhuman  manner,  with  force  and  arms; 
and  so  apprehended  us  illegally,  without  any  justice 
present  or  warrant  for  what  they  did;  but  one  holding 
up  his  musket,  said  that  was  his  warrant,  when  they 
took  us.  So  that  they  came  in  a  terrifying  manner 
among  a  peaceable  people,  which  was  both  contrary 
to  the  late  act  and  contrary  to  the  king's  Proclama- 
tion ;  which  prohibits  the  seizing  of  subjects  by  soldiers, 
unless  in  time  of  actual  insurrection.  And  by  the  said 
act,  the  deputy  lieutenants  and  militia  officers  and 
forces,  are  not  required  to  be  assisting  in  suppressing 
meetings,  unless  upon  a  certificate  under  the  hand  and 
seal  of  a  justice  of  peace,  that  he  with  his  assistants  are 
not  able  to  suppress  them.  And  also  it  was  told  them, 
that  no  dwelling  house  of  any  peer,  or  other  person 
whatsoever,  shall  be  entered  into  by  virtue  of  the  said 
act,  but  in  the  presence  of  one  justice  of  peace. 

"  Friends  also  complained  against  one  of  the  soldiers, 
for  firing  his  musket  near  the  meeting  door,  in  the  en- 
try, and  shooting  a  bullet  through  two  or  three  ceilings 
and  a  dwelling  room ;  which  bullet  was  found  near  a 
cradle,  where  a  child  used  to  be  laid;  and  one  present 
had  the  same  to  show  them. 

"  George  Moor,  one  of  the  justices,  answered,  that 
it  was  done  accidentally  :  but  how  that  could  be,  that 
it  was  not  intentionally  done,  does  not  appear ;  seeing 
the  rest  of  the  soldiers  held  their  matches  apart  from 
their  muskets.  Howbeit  if  accidentally  done,  consider 
whether  such  a  man  as  had  no  more  discretion  and 
government  or  care,  was  a  fit  person  or  officer,  to  come 
in  that  manner,  with  a  musket  charged,  among  a  peace- 
able, harmless  people  assembled  to  worship  God  ?  But 
George  Moor  excused  their  having  their  muskets  laden* 


O.    WHITEHEAD.  179 

And  to  George  Whitehead's  saying,  that  there  was  no 
justice  present  when  they  were  apprehended  ;  George 
Moor  answered  (hat  he  was  present.  George  White- 
head told  him,  they  did  not  see  him  there ;  and  the 
soldiers  being  asked,  if  he  were  present  among  them, 
they  said  no.  But  he  said  he  was  present,  for  he  was 
near  tlie  meeting,  or  but  a  little  way  off.  And  to  George 
Whitehead's  requiring  justice  against  those  soldiers  that 
had  broken  the  peace,  and  his  desiring  that  they  would 
correct  or  stop  such  proceedings  for  the  future  ;  saying, 
if  any  hurt  be  done  by  the  soldiers,  it  would  be  required 
at  your  hands,  &.c.  answer  was  made  by  some  present, 
that  our  Friends  might  take  their  course  and  have  the 
henetit  of  the  law,  if  they  would  swear  the  peace  against 
them. 

"  As  to  the  charge  against  George  Whitehead,  that 
he  was  at  an  unlawful  assembly,  and  there  was  taken 
speaking — he  answeied,  that  it  must  be  some  unlawful 
act  done  by  the  persons  met,  that  could  make  the  meet- 
ing unlawful ;  and  therefore  desired  to  know  what  un- 
lawful act  they  had  committed,  or  were  guilty  of  in 
their  meeting  1  And  he  told  them,  that  it  was  neither 
simply  the  meeting,  nor  the  number  met,  whether  tive 
or  five  hundred,  that  could  reasonably  be  judged  un- 
lawful, if  the  act  or  occasion  met  about  was  lawful ;  for 
it  is  an  unlawful  act  that  makes  an  unlawful  meeting. 

"As  to  the  act  of  Parliament  which  is  named,  'an 
act  to  prevent  seditious  conventicles;'  the  name  should 
signify  its  nature  and  intent,  and  the  preamble  the  rea- 
son or  cause  of  it,  and  that  is  against  such  as  under  pre- 
tence of  tender  consciences  do  contrive  insurrections  at 
their  meetings.  The  preambles  of  laws  are  esteemed 
the  keys  of  laws.  One  of  the  justices  said  :  He  did  not 
know  but  that  our  meetings  were  to  that  intent. 
George  Whitehead  told  him,  whatsoever  he  or  any 
other  might  suspect  against  them,  proves  nothing  ;  sus- 
picion proves  no  fact :  we  are  an  innocent  people  fear- 
ing God. 

"  Sonie  of  the  justices  upon  the  evidence,  alleged 


180  HEHOIRS    OF 

that  George  Whitehead  was  at  the  meeting  and  taken 
speaking,  and  the  meeting  was  above  the  number  of 
five.  To  which  George  Whitehead  said,  that  proves 
nothing  of  the  breach  of  the  law  against  him,  unless 
they  could  prove  some  unlawful  act  done  or  met  about ; 
for  it  is  not  the  number  makes  the  transgression,  but 
the  fact  if  it  be  unlawful ;  and  if  three  be  met  about 
an  unlawful  act,  it  is  an  unlawful  meeting  or  a  riot. 
This  Friends  urged  several  times,  that  it  must  be  an 
unlawful  act  that  must  make  a  meeting  unlawful;  and 
thereupon  excepted  against  the  evidence  as  insufficient 
for  conviction,  or  passing  sentence  of  imprisonment  upon 
them  in  order  to  banishment.  And  it  was  urged  as  a 
matter  of  weight,  which  concerned  them  to  consider  of. 

"  Whereupon  George  Moor  with  some  others,  com- 
manded the  people  to  depart,  and  caused  the  soldiers 
to  disperse  them  who  stood  civilly  by  to  hear  and  see 
what  became  of  our  Friends,  that  they  might  not  hear 
their  trial,  and  would  have  had  George  Whitehead 
taken  away,  &.c.  And  George  Whitehead  being  seve- 
ral times  accused  for  speaking  in  the  meeting,  he  de- 
sired the  justices  to  ask  the  witness  what  he  spake  in 
the  meeting  ?  But  they  would  not  ask  the  question, 
neither  could  the  witnesses  answer  to  it  when  it  was 
propounded  by  our  Friends  ;  so  that  nothing  of  the 
breach  of  the  law  was  proved  against  them.  One 
Friend  told  them,  we  suppose  you  will  not  account  it 
a  transgression  to  speak,  where  nothing  can  be  proved 
against  what  is  spoken ;  unless  you  would  have  us  dumb 
and  not  speak  at  all. 

"  And  then  as  to  meeting  to  the  number  of  five  or 
above,  under  colour  or  pretence  of  religious  exercise 
not  allowed  by  the  liturgy,  which  incurs  the  penalty  of 
the  act,  George  Whitehead  questioned  what  manner  of 
religious  exercise  the  liturgy  did  disallow  of?  and  grant- 
ed that  he  was  at  the  meeting  and  there  did  speak, 
having  a  word  of  exhortation  to  the  people ;  but  that 
still  they  fell  short  in  their  proof,  either  that  the  meet- 
ing was  seditious  or  tumultuous,  or  that  the  exercise  of 


G.    WHITEHEAD.  181 

religion  or  worship  as  we  practised  was  disallowed  by 
the  liturgy.  For,  said  he,  the  liturgy  allows  what  the 
Holy  Scriptures  allow  of;  and  if  I  had  a  word  of  exhor- 
tation to  speak,  according  to  the  gift  of  God  received, 
this  is  allowed  by  the  Scriptures,  therefore  not  dis- 
allowed by  the  liturgy ;  so  that  you  have  not  proved 
the  transgression  of  the  law  against  me.  To  which 
they  gave  no  answer.  The  clerk  said  it  was  a  dilem- 
ma ;  some  Friends  they  let  go,  because  the  soldiers 
could  not  testify  whether  they  took  them  in  the  street 
or  in  the  meeting. 

"  But  seeing  they  resolved  to  proceed  against  some 
of  our  Friends,  George  Whitehead  told  them,  that  if 
they  had  so  much  moderation  in  them,  they  needed  not 
to  proceed  to  the  rigour  of  the  law,  so  as  to  imprison 
them  for  three  months;  seeing  the  law  allowed  any 
time  not  exceeding  three  months,  &-c.  But  if  they  would 
imprison  them  to  the  utmost,  George  Whitehead  de- 
manded that  they  might  have  sufficient  prison  room, 
and  not  to  be  stifled  and  destroyed  by  many  being 
crowded  together,  as  several  were  before,  in  the  same 
prison,  &c. ;  for  if  they  were  it  would  be  required  at 
their  hands,  and  God  would  plead  their  cause  and  call 
them  to  account  for  what  they  had  done  against  them, 
&c. 

"After  several  passages  betwixt  them,  more  than 
are  here  mentioned,  Friends  refusing  to  pay  five  pounds 
fine  each,  they  were  committed  to  jail  without  bail  or 
mainprize.  While  the  justices  were  committing  them, 
there  was  exceeding  thunder,  lightning,  and  rain ;  in- 
somuch that  the  water  was  so  high  in  the  street,  that 
the  soldiers  could  not  get  them  to  prison,  but  kept  them 
in  the  street  in  the  rain,  and  after  had  them  back  to 
a  house  until  the  water  was  fallen  ;  and  then  they  were 
had  late  lo  prison,  much  wet. 

"  The  two  keepers,  viz.  Stephen  Harris  and  Joseph 
Hall,  after  a  little  space  demanded  of  each  of  them 
three  shillings  and  sixpence  a  week  for  lodging,  or  two 
shillings  apiece  for  the  bare  rooms,  the  best  whereof 

VOL.    I.  Q 


182  MESroiRS    OF 

overflowed  with  water.  But  they  could  not  yield  to 
the  gaoler's  oppression,  nor  answer  his  unreasonable 
demands,  nor  pay  him  down  ten  shillings  which  he  re- 
quired for  that  first  night ;  but  desired  to  be  left  to  their 
liberty,  and  if  they  received  any  courtesy  or  accommo- 
dation from  him,  they  should  consider  him  as  they  found 
cause ;  but  neither  could  pay  for  a  prison  nor  uphold 
oppression  in  it. 

"  Whereupon  Stephen  Harris  threatened  them  with 
the  common  ward,  where  the  felons  lie,  and  command- 
ed them  to  go  into  it ;  which  they  refused,  as  a  place  not 
fit  for  true  men  to  be  in.  Yet  the  said  Harris  turned 
them  into  the  common  ward  among  the  said  felons ; 
Friends  warned  him  not  to  suffer  them  to  be  abused, 
but  they  made  light  of  it,  saying,  it  is  your  own  faults ; 
and  seemed  to  encourage  the  felons  against  our  Friends, 

"  Soon  after  the  keepers  had  turned  their  backs,  the 
felons  demanded  half  a  crown  apiece  of  each  of  them, 
swearing  what  they  would  do  to  them ;  and  because 
Friends  could  not  answer  their  unjust  demands,  they 
fell  upon  them,  searched  their  pockets,  and  took  what 
money  they  found  from  several  of  them.  And  when 
they  had  so  done,  Stephen  Harris  the  keeper  came  to 
the  window,  and  the  felons  confidently  told  him  what 
they  had  done,  and  how  much  they  had  taken,  and 
that  they  must  have  more  from  them ;  which  he  did 
not  at  all  reprove  them  for  ;  and  they  said,  they,  hoped 
he  would  stand  by  them  in  what  they  did ;  only  he 
made  them  return  the  cloak  they  had  taken  from  one 
Friend,  after  they  had  taken  his  money  ;  and  he  laugh- 
ed when  they  threatened  Friends  and  swore  and  cursed 
them ;  the  keepers  also  swore  at  them,  and  threatened 
to  make  them  bow ;  whereupon  the  felons  gave  a  shout, 
saying :  '  God  'a  mercy,  boys,  we  will  be  upon  them 
again,'  &-c. 

"  Besides  these  abuses  which  our  Friends  met  withal 
from  the  gaolers  and  prisoners,  the  ward  was  such  a 
nasty  stinking  hole,  and  so  crowded  with  those  felons, 
and  several  women  lying  among  them,  which  some 


G.  WUITEHEAD. 


183 


called  their  wives,  that  our  Friends  had  not  whereon  to 
lay  their  heads  to  rest,  nor  a  stool  to  sit  down  upon; 
but  when  they  were  weary,  were  fain  to  sit  down  on 
the  floor,  among  the  vermin,  in  a  stinking  place :  of 
which  gross  abuses,  complaint  being  made  to  some  of 
the  justices  that  committed  them,  the  next  night  the 
gaoler  was  made  to  let  Friends  have  room  to  lodge  in, 
apart  from  the  felons. 

"  A  few  days  after  my  commitment  to  White  Lion 
prison  aforesaid,  another  trial  befel  me  ;  I  was  had  out 
of  the  prison,  before  John  Lenthal,  about  the  plot  in 
the  north  of  England,  1GG3,  being  unjustly  accused  by 
a  Yorkshireman,  a  sort  of  an  attorney,  to  have  been 
concerned  in  that  plot,  because  I  was  a  Westmoreland 
man  born  ;  and  though  he  could  not  make  out  any  proof 
against  me,  yet  he  persisted  in  his  own  evil  jealousy 
and  surmise,  that  I  was  such  a  person,  whom  he  nam- 
ed, and  said  was  in  the  plot ;  affirming  that  my  name 
was  not  Whitehead,  but  another  name.  Whereupon 
I  was  then  carried  in  a  boat  to  White-hall,  guarded 
with  musqueteers,  and  the  gaoler  also  with  us,  and 
there  was  I  had  into  a  room  near  the  secretary's  office, 
where  the  gaoler  waited  with  me ;  the  lawyer,  who 
falsely  had  suggested  the  crime  against  me,  went  in, 
and  after  some  time  a  person  was  sent  out  to  examine 
me,  and  my  accuser  with  him ;  then  was  I  questioned 
about  my  name,  the  examiner  looking  in  a  list  of  names 
which  he  had  in  his  hand  ;  I  gave  him  a  just  account 
of  my  name  and  clearness,  yet  my  accuser  would  con- 
fidently contradict  me,  saying,  your  name  is  not  White- 
head, but  Marshden,  or  such  a  like  name ;  I  told  him 
surely  I  knew  my  own  name,  as  I  had  declared  it ; 
presently  stept  in  one  who  seemed  to  be  an  ancient 
gentleman,  hearing  my  accuser  tell  me  my  name  was 
not  W^hitehead,  and  contradicted  him ;  saying,  '  Yes, 
his  name  is  Whitehead ;  he  has  writ  divers  books,  to 
which  his  name  is  in  print ;'  which  gave  a  check  to 
him,  and  prevented  further  examination. 

"  Howbeit  this  busy  false  accuser,  went  in  again  to 


184  MEMOIRS  OF 

the  secretary's  office,  and  in  a  little  time  came  out, 
and  warned  the  gaoler  not  to  discharge  me,  until  he 
had  order  from  the  secretary  ;  but  whether  he  had  or- 
der so  to  caution  the  gaoler,  was  questionable,  for  the 
man  appeared  very  busy  against  me,  without  cause, 
or  any  previous  knowledge  of  me,  or  I  of  him ;  but  see- 
ing he  was  so  confident  in  his  unjust  prosecution,  I  ques- 
tioned in  my  thoughts,  whether  he  might  not  be  sub- 
orned to  prosecute  me,  or  did  it  to  get  himself  a  name, 
or  some  reward  for  a  pretended  discovery.  However 
I  esteemed  it  best  and  safest  for  me,  to  trust  in  the 
Lord  my  God  for  presei'vation,  and  to  be  resigned  to 
his  will ;  and  I  desired  if  He  suffered  me  to  be  prose- 
cuted and  tried  for  my  life,  I  might  have  opportunity  to 
vindicate  and  clear  our  holy  profession  and  Friends, 
and  my  own  innocency  also,  from  all  such  works  of  dark- 
ness, as  plots  and  conspiracies  against  king,  or  govern- 
ment ;  and  this  I  thought  to  do,  if  brought  to  a  place 
of  execution  ;  nevertheless  1  wrote  a  letter  from  prison 
to  Lord  Arlington,  then  secretary  of  state,  to  clear  my 
own  innocency  from  those  false  suggestions  and  insinua- 
tions, which  were  made  against  me,  about  the  plot  be- 
fore mentioned,  which  was  delivered  to  him,  and  1 
heard  no  more  of  it  afterward,  but  was  released  out  of 
prison  with  the  rest,  when  the  three  months  were  ex- 
pired, for  which  we  had  been  committed. 

"  On  the  16th  day  of  the  8th  month,  16G4,  being  the 
first  day  of  the  week,  our  Friends  were  met  together, 
in  the  fear  of  the  Lord,  according  to  their  usual  man- 
ner, in  their  meeting  place  at  the  Bull  and  Mouth,  near 
Aldersgate,  London  ;  and  George  Whitehead  being 
there,  declared  the  Truth  in  the  power  and  dread  of 
the  Lord  God.  After  some  time,  came  a  great  com- 
pany of  men,  with  halberts,  into  the  meeting,  and  a 
little  after  they  shut  the  meeting-house  door,  and  kept 
out  many  people  that  would  have  come  in  ;  howbeit 
the  halbcrteers  stood  and  heard  quietly  for  near  ^n 
hour,  as  it  was  thought,  only  one  rude  fellow  attempted 
to  pull  George  Whitehead  down,  but  did  not.    After- 


G.    WHITEHEAD.  185 

ward  came  the  lord  mayor,  and  a  company  with  him, 
and  Richard  Brown  followed.  In  a  JiUle  time  after 
the  mayor  came  in,  a  rude  fellow  violently  pulled 
George  Whitehead  down  from  speaking,  and  haled  him 
near  the  door;  the  mayor  asked  him  his  name,  he 
told  him. 

"  Richard  Brown  came  somewhat  rudely  into  the 
meeting,  reviling  and  deriding  Friends,  whereupon  one 
of  them  giving  testimony  for  the  presence  of  the  Lord 
in  our  meeting,  after  this  manner,  viz.  *  The  Lord 
brought  us  hither ;  and  the  presence  of  the  Lord  is 
among  us ;  and  this  is  my  testimony,'  &c.  In  opposi- 
tion thereto,  the  said  Richard  Brown  answered,  viz. 
'  The  devil  brought  you  hither  ;  and  the  devil  is  among 
you  ;  and  this  is  my  testimony  ;'  laughing  and  swinging 
his  arms,  and  threatening  some  to  send  them  to  Bride- 
well. But  Georjie  Whitehead  exhorted  the  said  Rich- 
ard  Brown  and  the  mayor  to  moderation  and  civiHty 
towards  us;  Richard  Brown  answered,  if  you  will  be 
civil  to  us,  we  will  be  civil  to  you.  George  White- 
head desired  the  mayor  to  produce  the  law  they  had 
broken,  and  that  they  might  have  a  fair  trial.  Richard 
Brown  answered :  '  Yes,  you  shall  have  a  fair  trial  at 
the  sessions  to-morrow ;'  it  not  being  then  ended.  Then 
some  of  the  halbertmen  had  George  Whitehead,  and 
some  more  of  his  Friends  into  the  street,  where  after 
they  had  kept  them  some  time,  they  sent  them  in  com- 
panies to  Newgate,  without  sending  warrants  with  them, 
being  fined  one  shilling  each,*  or  six  days  imprison- 
ment. 

"  In  such  manner  both  our  men  and  women  Friends 
were  frequently  imprisoned,  and  gaols  filled  with  them 
in  those  days,  and  their  persecutors  were  in  great  heat 
and  haste  to  get  them  banished,  upon  the  second  act 
of  parliament  made  for  that  end. 

"  If  they  could  bring  them  under  conviction  for  a 
third  ofTence,  as  they  termed  our  meeting  to  worship 

*  The  number  so  committed  was  45,  viz.  29  men,  and  16  women. 

^  3 


186  MEMOIRS    OF 

the  living  and  only  true  God :  which  if  any  one  among 
us  did  but  confess,  it  was  enough  to  make  him  or  her 
an  olFender,  and  to  be  convicted  presently  thereupon, 
either  for  a  first,  second,  or  third  offence.  And  the 
shortness  of  our  imprisonment  last  related,  as  well  as 
the  smallness  of  the  lines  of  one  shilling  a  piece,  seemed 
designed  to  dispatch  us  the  sooner  out  of  the  land  by 
banishment,  after  conviction  for  three  offences  pre- 
tended. 

"  Now,  it  may  not  be  improper  to  give  some  account 
of  the  contents  of  the  second  act  of  parliament,  designed 
not  only  for  our  imprisonment,  but  also  for  our  banish- 
ment out  of  the  land  of  our  nativity  ;  and  that  with 
more  expedition  than  could  be  effected  by  the  first  act ; 
though  the  Lord  our  God  would  not  suffer  that  design 
of  banishment  to  take  any  such  general  effect  against 
us  as  was  desired  by  our  invidious  persecutors ;  for  by 
his  judgments  in  a  great  measure  he  frustrated  our 
adversaries.  Howbeit  many  of  our  innocent  Friends 
were  sentenced  for  banishment,  yet  but  few,  in  compa- 
rison, actually  shipped  away,  or  banished  out  of  the 
land. 

"  The  preamble  and  penalties  of  the  said  act  follow, 
16  Car.  2.  ch.  4. 

"  It  is  styled,  an  act  to  prevent  and  suppress  sedi- 
tious conventicles.  In  the  preamble,  the  25th  Eliz.  ch. 
1.  is  declared  to  be  in  force:  and  also  for  providing  of 
further  and  more  speedy  remedy  against  the  growing 
and  dangerous  practices  of  seditious  sectaries,  and  other 
disloyal  persons,  who  under  pretence  of  tender  con- 
sciences, do  at  their  meetings  continue  insurrections,  as 
late  experience  hath  showed.  Thus  far  the  preamble, 
and  reason  given  for  the  act. 

"Thereupon  it  is  enacted,  that  if  any  person  of  the 
age  of  10  years  and  upwards,  being  a  subject,  &c.  shall 
be  present  at  any  assembly,  conventicle,  or  meeting, 
under  colour  or  pretence  of  any  exercise  of  religion,  in 
other  manner  than  is  allowed  by  the  liturgy  of  the 
Church  of  England,  every  such  person  being  convicted 


G.    WHITEHEAD.  187 

before  two  justices  of  the  peace,  to  be  committed  to 
the  gaol,  or  house  of  correction,  there  to  remain  with- 
out bail  or  mainprize,  for  any  time  not  exceeding  three 
months;  unless  such  person  pay  down  to  the  said  jus- 
tices, such  sum  of  money  not  exceeding  five  pounds,  as 
they  might  fine  the  offender  at. 

"  And  for  the  second  offence,  the  person  convicted 
incurred  the  penalty  of  imprisonment,  for  any  time  not 
exceeding  six  months,  without  bail  or  mainprize ;  un- 
less the  person  convicted,  pay  down  such  sum  of  money, 
not  exceeding  ten  pounds,  as  the  justices  would  fine 
him. 

"  The  penalty  for  the  third  offence,  was  imprison- 
ment without  bail  or  mainprize,  until  the  next  general 
quarter  sessions,  assizes,  gaol-delivery,'  &.c.  there  to  be 
indicted,  arraigned,  &c.  And  when  convicted,  judg- 
ement to  be  entered,  that  such  offender  should  be  trans- 
ported beyond  the  seas,  to  any  of  his  majesty's  foreign 
plantations,  Virginia  and  New-England  only  excepted, 
there  to  remain  seven  years. 

"  And  the  said  respective  courts  were  also  empow- 
ered to  give  out  warrants  to  the  several  constables, 
&c.  where  the  estate  real  or  personal  of  such  offender 
so  to  be  transported,  should  be  ;  commanding  them  to 
seize  into  their  hands,  the  profits  of  the  lands,  and  to 
distrain  and  sell  the  goods  of  the  person  to  be  trans- 
ported, for  the  reimbursing  the  sheriff  his  charges,  for 
conveying  and  embarking  the  person  to  be  transported. 
*'  And  it  is  also  provided  and  enacted,  that  in  case 
the  offender  convicted  for  the  third  offence,  shall  pay 
one  hundred  pounds  in  court ;  he  shall  be  discharged 
from  imprisonment,  transportation,  and  judgment  for 
the  same. 

"  And  it  is  further  enacted,  that  the  like  imprison- 
ment, judgment,  arraignment,  and  proceedings,  shall 
be  against  every  such  offender  as  often  as  he  shall 
again  offend  after  such  third  offence ;  nevertheless  is 
dischargable  and  discharged  by  payment  of  the  like 
sum  as  was  payed  for  his,  or  her  said  offence,  next  be- 


188  MKMOIRS    OP 

fore  committed,  together  with  the  additional  and  in- 
creased sum  of  one  hundred  pounds  more  upon  every 
new  olTence  committed. 

"  But  this  severe  act  was  made  temporary,  only 
being  to  continue  in  force  for  three  years  after  the  end 
of  that  session,  and  to  the  end  of  the  next  session  of 
parliament,  after  the  end  of  three  years  and  no  longer. 

"  And  indeed  it  was  high  time  that  persecuting  cruel 
law  should  expire,  and  die ;  for  the  execution  thereof, 
tended  to  the  great  oppression  and  ruin  of  many  of  the 
king's  innocent  peaceable  subjects  and  families,  espe- 
cially of  the  people  called  Quakers,  whom  the  persecu- 
tors in  that  three  years'  time  furiously  endeavoured  to 
rid  the  nation  of,  by  banishment,  or  to  force  them  to 
conform  to  that  church  whereof  those  persecutors  were 
members ;  who  by  their  many  and  frequent  imprison- 
ments, in  order  to  banishment,  brought  no  great  honour 
to  their  church,  priesthood,  or  profession,  but  made 
many  widows  and  fatherless,  as  well  as  poor  by  their 
persecutions,  cruelties,  imprisonments,  lines  and  dis- 
tresses, and  many  times  spoil  of  their  goods,  upon  their 
persecuting  acts  and  laws.  Our  religious  assemblies 
have  been  often  disturbed  and  broken  by  the  persecu- 
ting agents,  oilicers,  and  soldiers,  &c.  and  many  of  us 
apprehended  and  brought  before  magistrates,  and  wit- 
nesses called  and  examined,  and  no  matter  of  evil  fact 
proved  against  any  of  us,  either  of  any  breach  of  the 
public  peace  or  sedition,  much  less  of  any  contrivance 
of  insurrection,  or  of  any  other  dangerous  practice  what- 
soever ;  or  if  the  meeting  was  taken  sometime  wholly 
silent,  or  altogether  in  silence,  yet  the  persecuting  jus- 
tices would  endeavour  to  make  it  a  seditious  conventi- 
cle, when  they  could  have  no  proof  of  any  sedition,  or 
unlawful  act  whatsoever,  or  colour  of  evidence  thereof 
against  it,  or  any  of  our  meetings  wlmtsoever. 

<'  The  manner  of  their  proceeding  to  conviction 
against  many  of  us,  has  been  thus,  viz.  When  appre- 
hended and  convened  before  the  magistrates,  and  the 
officers  or  witnesses  called,  they  declare  they  took  such 


G.    WHITEHEAD. 


189 


and  such  persons  in  such  a  conventicle  or  meeting. 
The  magistrate  asks,  What  did  they  do  there?  If  the 
witness  answers,  he  tooic  such  an  one  preaching,  or 
teaching,  or  praying ;  and  he  be  asked,  What  did  he 
say  ?  Commonly  the  witness  or  witnesses  cannot  re- 
member one  sentence,  preached  or  prayed.  However 
the  persecuting  magistrate  takes  it  for  granted,  it  was 
a  seditious  conventicle,  though  he  has  no  proof  of  any 
sedition  preached,  taught,  or  uttered  in  prayer,  nor  any 
evidence  or  knowledge  of  what  was  said,  preached,  or 
prayed,  yet  presently  he  passes  judgment,  enters  con- 
viction, and  imprisons  the  persons  convened. 

"  If  any  of  the  persons  takfen,  confessed  they  were 
met  to  worship  God  in  spirit  and  Truth,  or  to  wait  upon 
God ;  this  the  persecuting  magistrates  presently  lay 
hold  of,  and  say.  That  is  enough,  or  they  have  con- 
fessed enough  to  convict  them  of  a  conventicle,  or  un- 
lawful assembly. 

"  And  if  the  witnesses,  or  informers,  have  no  evi- 
dence to  give,  of  any  matter  of  fact,  or  overt  act,  or 
colour  of  religious  exercise  done  in  the  meeting ;  but 
only  that  the  meeting  was  all  in  silence,  as  many  times 
it  hath  been  ;  yet  the  persecuting  magistrates,  or  jus- 
tices, would  either  make  a  riot,  or  unlawful  assembly 
of  such  a  quiet  and  silent  meeting,  when  there  was  not 
the  least  appearance  of  a  riot,  force,  or  violence,  nor 
any  thing  acted  or  spoken  in  terrorum,  or  to  the  hurt 
or  injury  of  any  one's  person  or  property  whatsoever.* 

"  When  a  persecuting  justice  with  a  constable  and 
others  comes  huffing  and  stamping  into  the  assembly, 
whether  all  be  in  silence  or  one  preaching,  and  either 
commands  the  people  to  be  pulled  out  of  the  meeting, 
or  the  doors  to  be  shut  to  keep  them  in,  and  their 

■*  Judge  Bridman  charging  a  jury  at  Hertford,  said:  "You  are 
not  to  expect  a  plain  punctual  evidence  against  them,  for  any  thing 
they  said  or  did  at  their  meeting  ;  for  they  may  speak  to  one  ano- 
ther, though  not  with  articulate  sounds,  hut  by  a  cast  of  the  eye,  or 
a  motion  of  the  head  or  foot,  or  gesture  of  the  body."  Sewel,  vol.  ii. 
page  135.  Editor. 


190  MEMOIRS    OF 

names  to  be  taken  ;  the  officers  and  other  rude  persons, 
either  pull  and  hale  people  out  till  they  are  tired,  or 
take  names,  &c.  until  they  are  weary,  according  as  they 
have  command.  The  justice  then  either  imprisons,  or 
fines  many  of  the  persons  who  are  most  noted,  though 
he  saw  no  fact  committed,  of  any  evil  nature  or  ten- 
dency. 

"  Persecuting  justices  would  easily  receive  informa- 
tions against  our  religious  meetings,  how  ignorant  and 
impertinent  soever  they  were.  If  an  envious  person 
or  informer  told  the  justice,  that  the  Quakers  were 
met  under  colour  of  religious  exercise,  contrary  to  the 
Liturgy  and  practice  of  the  Church  of  England,  and 
declared  that  there  was  preaching  or  praying  in  such 
a  meeting,  although  he  remembered  not  one  word  ex- 
pressed in  cither;  such  ignorant  evidence  has  been 
often  deemed  sufficient  for  conviction :  the  informer  or 
witness  thus  presuming  to  be  judge  both  of  law  and 
fact,  when  probably  he  understands  not  what  the  word 
liturgy  means,  nor  can  explain  the  propriety  or  extent 
of  that  term,  or  of  the  expression,  ^rac/tVe  of  the  Church 
of  England ;  which  practice  is  not  limited  to  reading 
the  common  prayer.*" 

*  This  passage  may  be  illustrated  by  the  views  of  some  of  the 
jurymen,  on  the  trial  of  a  number  of  Friends  in  London,  for  meet- 
ing for  worship  in  olker  tnanner  than  is  allowed  by  the  Liiurgy  and 
practice  of  the  Church  of  England. 

"  Tlie  jury,  in  the  first  instance,  brought  in  their  verdict,  that 
four  of  the  prisoners  were  not  guilty,  and  the  rest  they  could  not 
agree  on.  The  judge  (Hyde)  being  much  displeased,  sent  them 
out  again  with  fresh  instructions ;  they  returned  with  this  verdict, 
guilty  of  meeting  but  not  of  fact.  The  judge  inquiring  what  they 
meant  by  not  guilty  of  fact,  the  jury  replied  :  '  Here  is  evidence 
that  they  met  at  the  Bull  and  Moutli,  therefore  we  say  guilty  of 
meeting  :  but  no  evidence  of  what  they  did  there,  and  therefore 
we  say,  not  guilty  of  meeting  contrary  to  the  Liturgy  of  the  Church 
of  England.'  The  judge  a.skcd  some  of  the  jury,  whether  they  did 
not  believe  in  their  consciences,  that  they  were  there  under  colour 
and  pretence  of  worship  i"  To  which  one  of  them  replied:  'I  do 
believe  in  my  conscience,  that  tliey  were  met  to  worship  in  deed 
and  in  truth.'  Another  said  :  'My  lord,  I  have  that  venerable  re- 
spect  for  the  Liturgy  of  the  Church  of  England,  as  to  believe  it  is 


G.    WHITEHEAD. 


191 


It  was  observable,  as  well  as  memorable,  that  as  the 
rulers  and  government  in  those  days  were  often  warn- 
ed of  the  impending  judgments  of  God,  if  they  would 
not  desist  and  leave  off  their  persecutions ;  so  when 
they  were  making  haste  to  have  us  banished  out  of  the 
land,  and  especially  out  of  the  city  of  f^ondon  and  su- 
burbs thereof,  in  the  years  lGG4and  1GG5,  and  for  that 
end  the  gaols  were  often  filled  and  crowded,  whereby 
many  innocent  people  suffered  death  ;  God  was  pleased 
even  then,  in  the  year  16G5,  to  hasten  his  heavy  judg- 
ment and  sad  calamity  of  the  great  plague,  or  raging 
pestilence  upon  the  said  city,  and  some  other  places  in 
the  land,  whereby  many  thousands  of  the  inhabitants 
died ,  sometimes  above  six  thousand  in  a  week,  of  all 
sorts,  both  of  good  and  evil,  men  and  women,  besides 
innocent  children.  Though  the  calamity  was  common 
to  all  classes,  yet  were  the  righteous  taken  away  from 
the  evil  to  come,  and  it  went  ill  with  the  wicked;  but 
for  all  this  they  would  not  return  to  the  Lord ;  neither 
would  the  cruel  persecutors  repent  of  their  abominable 
cruelties,  but  persisted  therein  as  far  as  they  could  ; 
disturbing  our  meetings  and  imprisoning,  until  they 
were  frightened  with  the  plague.  Even  in  this  time 
there  were  many  of  our  innocent  Friends  confined  in 
gaols,  which  seemed  no  small  piece  of  barbarity  and  in- 
humanity, especially  when  the  infectious  contagion  so 
greatly  prevailed  in  the  city.  I  have  told  some  persons 
in  authority  of  this  cruelty,  &c.  to  manifest  what  mercy 

according  to  the  Scriptures,  which  allow  of  the  worship  of  God  in 
spirit;  and  tiicrcfore  I  conclude,  to  worship  God  in  spirit  is  not 
contrary  to  the  Liturgy  :  if  it  be,  I  shall  abate  of  my  respect  for 
it.'  "     GoHgh,  vol.  ii.  page  Vi9. 

Such  decision  and  good  feeling  were  but  rarely  met  with  in  the 
juries  of  those  days;  who  in  general  united  with  judges  and  in- 
formers, in  the  illegal  application  of  unjust  laws.  The  king  and 
the  legislature,  tiie  judges  and  the  people,  were  combined  together 
to  oppress  tender  consciences,  in  the  support  of  the  idol  of  unifor- 
mity :  who  can  wonder  that  such  a  nation  was  ripe  for  heavy 
calamities !  Editor' 


192  MEMOIRS    OF 

their  church  then  showed  us,  and  that  men  of  modera- 
tion or  any  compassion  would  be  ashamed  thereof. 

In  the  year  1665,  and  in  that  very  summer  when  the 
plague  and  mortality  were  so  great,  the  persecutors  in 
London  were  busy  to  send  away  our  Friends  whom 
they  had  sentenced  for  banishment,  and  closely  detain- 
ed in  prison  in  order  thereto. 

They  began  soon  in  the  year  to  force  our  Friends  on 
shipboard.  The  first  Friends  they  shipped  to  send 
away,  were  Edward  Brush,  Robert  Hayes,  and  James 
Harding;  who  on  the  twenty-fourth  day  of  the  first 
month,  1665,  were  early  in  the  morning,  without  any 
timely  warning,  hurried  down  from  Newgate  to  Black- 
friars  stairs  by  the  turnkeys,  and  from  thence  to  Graves- 
end,  and  there  forced  on  shipboard ;  the  said  Edward 
Brush  being  a  very  aged  man,  and  a  citizen  of  good 
repute  among  his  neighbours  and  many  persons  of  qua- 
lity, yet  was  thus  sent  away  and  banished  from  his  dear 
wife  and  child.  But  a  more  lamentable  instance  of 
the  persecutors'  cruelty  in  this  undertaking  was,  that 
the  said  Robert  Hayes  being  taken  fasting  out  of  pri- 
son, and  weak  in  body,  having  been  under  a  course  of 
physic,  was  carried  forth  upon  the  water  to  Gravesend, 
the  season  being  very  cold  ;  and  having  no  outward  re- 
freshment or  relief  afforded  him  by  the  way  on  the 
water,  within  a  very  short  time  after  he  was  put  on 
shipboard  he  died  there;  and  his  body  was  brought  up 
to  London  and  buried  in  our  Friends'  burying  place. 

I  knew  this  Robert  Hayes ;  he  was  a  very  innocent, 
loving  man,  a  good  like  person,  had  a  fresh,  comely 
countenance,  seemed  healthy  and  in  his  prime  strength 
when  first  imprisoned.  1  was  very  sorrowfully  affect- 
ed, when  1  heard  how  quickly  he  was  dispatched  out 
of  the  world,  by  that  shameful  cruelly  and  inhuman 
usage,  inflicted  upon  him  by  those  merciless  persecu- 
tors.* 

*  Edward   Brush    and  James  Harding  were  sent  to  Jamaica, 
where  they  were  prosperous  and  lived  in  good  circumstances,  Ed- 


G.  WHITEHEAD. 


193 


On  the  1 8th  of  the  second  month,  1065,  seven  nnore 
of  our  Friends  were  taken  out  of  Newgate  and  carried 
to  Gravesend,  and  there  put  on  shipboard  for  banish- 
ment, as  the  others  were  before. 

Not  many  days  after  those  Friends  were  embarked, 
one  of  the  grand  persecutors  was  suddenly  cut  off  by 
death,  namely,  judge  Hyde;  who,  it  is  said,  was  seen 
well  at  Westminster  in  the  morning,  and  died  in  his 
closet  about  noon. 

About  this  time  the  plague  began  to  increase  more 
and  more,  and  the  first  that  was  known  to  die  thereof 
in  the  city,  was  within  a  few  doors  of  the  said  Edward 
Brush's  house.  And  the  plague  so  increased,  until  of 
that  and  other  distempers,  there  died  eight  thousand  in 
a  week  in  and  about  the  city  of  London.  Oh !  the 
hardheartedness,  cruelty,  and  presumption  of  our  per- 
secutors ;  who  in  that  time  of  the  great  calamity  and 
mortality,  in  the  fifth  month,  1005,  took  fifty-five  men 
and  women,  of  our  Friends,  out  of  Newgate,  and  forced 
them  on  board  the  ship  called  the  Black  Eagle,  which 
lay  some  time  at  Buggby's  Hole ;  and  the  sickness  be- 
ing in  Newgate,  whence  they  were  carried  out  to  the 
ship,  the  distemper  broke  out  among  them  when  so 
crowded,  that  the  most  of  them  were  infected ;  inso- 
much that  about  twenty-seven  of  them  soon  died  on 
shipboard,  some  at  Buggby's  Hole  and  the  rest  beyond 
Gravesend. 

1  visited  these  Friends  and  had  a  meeting  with  them 
when  on  shipboard ;  and  the  Lord  my  God  preserved 
me  both  from  the  distemper  and  from  banishment, 
wherein  I  do  humbly  confess  his  power  and  special 
Providence,  to  his  own  praise  and  glory  alone. 

Having  some  time  of  respite  between  my  imprison- 
ments, before  the  sickness  in  London,  1  travelled  to  visit 
our  Friends  in  the  country,  and  sometimes  into  the  nor- 

ward  Brusli  was  an  aged  man  at  the  time  of  his  banishment,  and 
left  behind  iiiin  a  beloved  wife  and  only  child  ;  but  aa:ed  as  he  was, 
he  survived  the  term  of  his  exile,  returned  to  his  country,  and  died 
at  home  in  peace.  Editor. 

VOL.    I.  R 


194  MEMOIRS    OF 

thern  counties ;  and  near  the  bejjinning  of  (hat  summer, 
16G5,  when  the  pestilence  was  begun  in  London,  1  was 
in  the  county  of  Surrey,  and  having  a  meeting  at  John 
Smith's  house  at  Worplesdon,  his  brother  Stephen 
Smith  and  his  wife,  &.c.  came  to  the  mi-eting;  where 
Stephen  and  his  wife  were  convinced  of  the  Truth, 
which  the  Lord  enabled  me  to  declare,  and  livingly  to 
demonstrate,  at  that  time,  as  at  many  other  times  and 
meetings. 

I  soon  came  to  London,  and  my  lodging  was  at  the 
house  of  William  Travers,  tobacconist,  in  Watling 
Street. 

It  was  a  time  of  great  calamity  and  sorrow,  to  many 
thousands  of  all  sorts;  and  that  which  added  to  our 
Friends'  affliction  was,  the  hardness  of  our  persecutors' 
hearts,  their  cruelty  and  barbarity  in  imprisoning  and 
detaining  many  of  them  both  in  Newgate,  London,  and 
in  the  White  Lion  prison  in  Southwark,  after  the  plague 
was  greatly  broken  forth,  and  many  people  were  swept 
away  thereby. 

I  had  not  then  freedom  to  leave  the  city,  or  Friends 
in  and  about  London,  in  that  time  of  great  calamity, 
no,  not  when  the  mortality  was  at  the  height ;  but  was 
concerned  and  given  up  in  spirit  to  stay  among  them 
to  attend  Friends'  meetings,  to  visit  Friends,  even  when 
many  of  them  lay  sick  of  the  contagion,  both  in  prison 
and  in  their  habitations.  And  in  all  that  time  the  Lord 
preserved  me  by  his  power,  from  that  infectious  dis- 
temper; which  mercy  1  esteemed  great  and  wonderful, 
and  hope  ever  thankfully  to  remember,  in  a  living  sense 
of  the  same  Divine  Hand  which  upheld  and  preserved 
me. 

And  although  it  was  judged  the  prisons  were  then  in- 
fected and  poisoned  with  the  contagion,  I  was  freely 
given  up  to  sutler  imprisonment ;  and  on  first-days  took 
my  night-cap  in  my  pocket  when  I  went  to  meetings, 
not  knowing  but  I  might  be  apprehended  and  committed 
to  prison.  However,  the  Lord  gave  me  faith  to  be  re- 
signed to  his   will,  either  to  live  or  to  die  for  his  JVame 


G.    WHITEHEAD.  195 

and  Truth's  sake;  and  through  all  those  dangers  and 
dirticulties,  to  bear  my  testimony  in  faithfulness  to  his 
blessed  Power  and  l^ight  of  righteousness;  and  He 
thereby  sustained  and  wonderfully  preserved  my  life, 
when  the  cry  and  sound  of  mortality  was  round  about 
us,  from  one  end  and  side  of  the  city  to  another. 

As  the  contagion  and  sickness  increased,  many  of 
our  persecutors  were  so  terrified,  that  their  hands  were 
for  some  time  weakened  ;  yet  still  many  of  them  were 
so  hardened  that  they  were  resolved  to  proceed  against 
us  unto  banishment :  as  when  Pharaoh  saw  there  was 
respite,  he  hardened  his  heart,  so  did  our  persecutors, 
when  the  calamity  did  not  come  upon  themselves ; 
though  they  saw  how  it  was  abroad  in  the  world,  great- 
ly destroying  the  inhabitants  thereof:  for  it  was  ob- 
served in  tiie  weekly  bill,  tiiat  when  the  plague  was 
roost  hot  and  violent  in  and  about  London,  seven  thou- 
sand one  hundred  and  sixty-five  died  thereof  in  one 
week  ;  and  in  that  year,  1665,  of  the  same  distemper, 
sixty  eight  thousand  five  hundred  and  ninety-six,  ac- 
cording to  the  yearly  bill. 

1  was  then  deeply  concerned  in  my  spirit  for  our 
Friends,  to  visit  both  such  of  them  as  were  sick  in  pri- 
son and  out  of  prison,  even  when  some  of  them  were 
very  near  death  ;  being  often  in  great  suffering  and  tra- 
vail of  spirit,  with  earnest  prayer  and  fervent  supplica- 
tions to  God  for  them,  who  were  sufferers  by  imprison- 
ment and  this  visitation,  that  God  would  appear  for 
them  and  plead  their  innocent  cause,  and  afford  them 
speedy  help  and  deliverance.  Being  then  a  witness  of 
that  love  which  casts  out  fear,  through  the  great  mercy 
and  love  of  my  Heavenly  Father  manifested  in  his  dear 
Son,  I  was  not  afraid  to  visit  my  Friends  when  sick  and 
in  infected  prisons.  The  Lord  did  support  and  bear  up 
my  spirit  in  living  faith,  true  and  fervent  love  above 
the  fear  of  death  or  the  contagious  distemper,  and  my 
life  was  resigned  and  given  up,  in  the  will  of  Him  who 
gave  it,  for  my  Friends  and  brethren  ;  for  whose  sake 
true  Christian  love  would  engage  us  to  lay  down  our 


196  MEMOIRS,   «kc. 

lives  to  save  theirs,  if  required  of  the  Lord  so  to  mani- 
fest our  unfeigned  love  one  for  another:  and  the  Lord 
gave  us  great  consolation,  comfort,  and  courage ;  hav- 
ing received  certain  testimony  and  evidence  in  our 
hearts,  of  the  love  of  God  which  we  did  partake  of  in 
Christ. Jesus,  from  which  we  believed  no  wrath  of  man, 
no  persecutions,  calamities,  nor  distresses  should  sepa- 
rate us. 

In  those  times  of  severe  trials,  those  questions  and 
answers  given  by  the  apostle,  Rom.  viii.  35,  &c.  were 
often  remembered :  "  Who  shall  separate  us  from  the 
love  of  Christ  ?  Shall  tribulation,  or  distress,  or  perse- 
cution, or  famine,  or  nakedness,  or  peril,  or  sword  1  As 
it  is  written :  For  Thy  sake  we  are  killed  all  the  day 
long ;  we  are  accounted  as  sheep  for  the  slaughter. 
Nay,  in  all  these  things  we  are  more  than  conquerors 
through  Him  that  loved  us :  for  I  am  persuaded,  that 
neither  death  nor  life,  nor  angels,  nor  principalities,  nor 
powers,  nor  things  present  nor  things  to  come,  nor 
height,  nor  depth,  nor  any  other  creature,  shall  be  able 
to  separate  us  from  the  love  of  God,  which  is  in  Christ 
Jesus  our  Lord." 


(   197  ) 


SECTION  X. 

♦  The  Oxford  five  mile  act — George  Whitehead  addresses  two 
epistles  to  Friends  during  their  trials — The  great  fire  in  London, 
1666. — Friends  continue  their  meetings — George  Whitehead 
continues  principally  in  London — and  marries  in  the  year  1669. 
In  1686  he  lost  his  wife — and  in  1688  married  again. — The  nar- 
rative reverts  to  the  fire  in  London. — A  further  act  to  prevent 
seditious  conventicles  in  1670. 

In  consequence  of  the  plague  prevailing  in  London, 
the  Parliament  was  convened  this  year  at  Oxford.  The 
joint  calamities  of  war  and  pestilence,  which  at  this 
time  distressed  the  city  and  nation,  seemed  to  have 
made  no  profitable  impression  on  the  members  of  this 
Parliament,  so  as  to  incline  them  to  a  better  temper  to- 
wards the  nonconformists.  As  if  the  sufferings  of  every 
class  of  the  people  were  not  sufficient,  and  as  if  the 
evil  of  nonconformity  was  the  only  sin  of  the  nation, 
they  proceeded  to  enact  a  fresh  penal  law,  commonly- 
known  by  the  name  of  the  "  Oxford  Jive  mile  act ;" 
which  received  the  royal  assent,  October  the  31st, 
1665.  It  required  all  parsons  and  others  in  holy  orders, 
who  had  not  subscribed  the  "  j(lct  of  Uniformity,'^  to 
swear  that  under  any  circumstances,  it  was  unlawful  to 
take  up  arms  against  the  king,  and  that  they  would 
not  at  any  time  endeavour  ani/  alteration  of  government 
in  church  or  state.  Those  nonconformist  ministers  who 
would  not  subscribe  this  oath  of  passive  obedience,  were 
forbid  under  a  penalty  of  forty  pounds,  except  in  pass- 
ing the  road,  to  come  within  five  miles  of  any  city, 
town  corporate,  or  borough  that  sends  burgesses  lo 
Parliament,  or  within  five  miles  of  any  parish,  town, 
or  place  wherein  they  had,  since  the  passing  of  the  act 

*  This  notice  of  the  Oxford   act,  is  not  in  George  Whitehead's 
memoirs. 

R   2 


198  MEMOIRS  OF 

of  oblivion,  been  parsons,  &c.  or  where  they  had  preach- 
ed in  any  conventicle.  They  were  also  rendered  in- 
capable of  teaching  any  public  or  private  schools,  or  of 
taking  any  boarders  to  be  instructed,  under  the  same 
penalty. 

Though  this  act  was  principally  aimed  at  the  Pres- 
byterians and  Independents,  who  had  formerly  enjoyed 
the  ecclesiastical  emoluments,  and  many  of  them  suffer- 
ed severely  from  it;  yet  it  was  also  frequently  em- 
ployed against  the  poor  Quakers,  by  the  tendering  of 
them  the  oath;  and  thus,  though  from  their  peaceable 
principles  they  could  readily  declare  that  they  held  it 
unlawful  to  take  up  arms  against  the  king,  or  to  sub- 
vert either  church  or  state,  yet  as  they  would  not  swear 
to  it,  they  were  frequently  committed  to  prison.  See 
Sewel  and  Gough. 

It  is  observable  that  the  prevalence  of  the  plague 
had  but  little  influence  in  checking  the  persecuting 
spirit.  As  to  outward  appearance,  "  One  event  hap- 
pened to  the  righteous  and  the  wicked  ;"  men  hardened 
their  hearts,  and  did  not  seek  to  propitiate  the  Divine 
favour  by  amending  their  ways.  Indeed,  it  would  ap- 
pear that  the  persecutors  were  disposed  to  attribute 
the  calamity  to  the  prevalence  of  unorthodox  notions, 
rather  than  to  the  corrupt  and  vicious  practices  which 
were  spread  like  a  leprosy  over  the  court  and  the  peo- 
ple. 

During  these  great  trials,  George  Whitehead's  faith 
appears  to  have  been  unshaken ;  and  he  addressed  two 
affectionate  and  encouraging  epistles  to  his  Friends, 
whose  spirits  were  saddened  and  cast  down  under 
the  afflictions  of  the  times ;  the  latter  written  after 
the  heat  of  the  contagion  was  over :  from  both  of  them 
I  shall  give  a  few  extracts. 

FIRST  EPISTLE. 

"  O,  dear  Friends  ! 

"  Yon  that  have  received  the  testimony  of  God's  love 


G.    WHITEHEAD.  199 

and  salvation,  and  have  tasted  of  the  power  of  an  end- 
less life,  look  not  out  nor  be  discouraj^ed  at  the  deep 
sutlieiiiig  and  trial  of  tlie  present  time;  though  many 
have  a  deep  sense  thereof  upon  their  spirits,  and  the 
hearts  of  many  be  saddened,  to  see  how  universal  this 
calamity  and  overflowing  scourge  is,  in  this  day  of 
sweeping,  si. ting,  and  trying  ;  wlierein  the  gift  ot  many 
must  be  thoroughly  tried,  and  their  patience  proved, 
to  the  resigrmient  of  life  anc!  all  into  the  will  ol  the  Fa- 
ther, in  whose  hands  we  are  ;  who  knows  what  is  best 
for  his  children,  and  whose  ways  are  not  to  be  mea- 
sured nor  found  out  by  the  wisdom  of  man ;  for  his 
works  and  proceedings  are  in  a  cross  to  all  carnal  rea- 
son and  expectations,  and  to  the  confounding  thereof. 
But  they  who,  in  the  faith  and  patience  of  Christ,  do 
give  up  to  his  will,  as  those  that  live  by  faith  in  Him, 
and  whose  hope  and  refuge  the  Lord  is,  such  shall  never 
be  confounded  nor  afraid,  though  the  earth  be  re- 
moved ;  neither  shall  thi  y  be  discouraged  or  unsettled 
because  of  the  wicked,  who,  when  he  is  in  great  pouer, 
flourishes  like  a  green  bay-tree  ;  for  he  passeth  away 
and  shall  not  be  found.  And  he  that  enters  into  the 
sanctuary  of  the  Lord,  and  there  abides,  shall  see  the 
end  of  his  enemies  and  persecutors,  who  stand  in  slip- 
pery places,  though  for  a  time  they  have  seemed  to 
prosper  in  the  world. 

"And  dear  Friends,  who  have  a  sense  of  the  suffer- 
ings of  the  Righteous  Seed,  which  bears  the  afflictions, 
sorrows,  and  sutlt-'rings  of  God's  people  through  all,  and 
hath  been  bruised  and  wounded  under  the  weight  and 
burden  of  people's  iniquities ;  though  He  has  been 
deemed  as  one  plagued  or  smitten  of  God — all  of  you 
keep  in  the  sense  of  the  power  of  Christ,  by  which  you 
may  feel  your  preservation,  through  faith  in  Him  who 
is  given  for  a  Covenant  of  Life  and  Light;  and  retire 
to  Him  who  is  manifest  for  a  sure  hiding  place  to  the 
upright,  in  the  day  of  calamity  and  hour  of  temptation  ; 
in  Him  you  will  witness  plenteous  redemption,  and  the 
refreshments  of  his  life,  overall  the  troubles  and  sutier- 


200  MKMOIHS    OP 

ings  of  the  present  time,  and  over  all  fears  and  doubt- 
ings  whicli  thereupon  would  beset  any  of  you,  to  wea- 
ken you  either  inwardly  or  outwardly. 

"And  let  none  admit  unbelief  or  hard  thoughts,  nor 
be  shaken  in  mind  beeause  of  the  deep  sullerings  of 
n)any  of  the  dear  servants  of  the. Lord  at  this  day,  who 
are  as  killed  and  crucitied,  and  all  the  day  long  ac- 
counted as  sheep  for  the  slaughter ;  nor  at  the  great 
calamity  and  mortality  in  this  lading  city,  which  ex- 
tends to  the  upright  and  innocent,  as  well  as  to  the  un- 
righteous ;  and  to  divers  of  the  sufferers  for  Truth  in 
their  conhnements,  who  have  not  contributed  to  the 
cause  of  God's  displeasure  herein,  but  are  taken  away 
in  mercy  as  to  them,  and  from  the  evil  to  come;  and 
set  in  safety  from  the  future  cruelties,  and  wicked  de- 
signs of  their  oppressors  and  cruel  minded  persecutors, 
who  have  hunted  for  the  blood  of  the  innocent;  and 
may  not  only  be  charged  with  not  visiting  Christ  when 
lie  was  sick  and  in  prison,  but  also  with  killing  and 
niurderin;^;  Him  in  prison  ;  inasmuch  as  it  is  done  to  any 
of  his  little  ones,  by  their  cruel  confinements  in  pesti- 
lenti.il  or  poisonous  places.  But  we  know  that  for  the 
faithful  assuredly  remains  victory,  triumph,  and  ever- 
lasting safety,  though  it  be  through  death  to  many  of 
them  ;  who  know  that  it  is  neither  tribulation,  nor  dis- 
tress, nor  persecution,  nor  famine,  nor  death,  nor  life, 
&-C.  that  shall  be  able  to  separate  from  the  love  of 
Christ ;  and  hereof  we  have  a  sure  evidence  and  living 
confidence,  in  the  Name  and  Power  of  the  Lord  our 
God  ;  to  whom  be  glory  and  praises  for  ever  1" 


SECOND  EPISTLE.  "  Yea,  blesscd  forcvcr  be  thc  name 
of  our  God,  who  hath  given  us  strength  and  courage  to 
stand  in  an  evil  day,  over  hell,  and  death,  and  the  de- 
vil, with  all  his  fiery  darts  and  fierce  assaults  against 
the  righteous.  The  Lord  hath  spared  and  will  spare  a 
remnant,  to  bear  his  mark  and  name  upon  earth,  and 
to  hold  forth  a  living  testimony  for  his  glory  and  praise 
amongst  the  sons  of  men ;  for  which  many  have  not 


O.    WHITEHEAD.  201 

loved  their  lives  unto  death,  hut  have  oirored  up  their 
lives:  as  many  manifestly  did  in  that  city  of  London 
the  hist  summer,  when  such  a  sore  visitation  and  cala- 
mity vvas  upon  that  place,  wherein  many  ollcred  up 
life  and  all,  for  the. truth,  and  their  afflicted  brethren 
and  sisters;  for  whose  sakes  my  soul  has  been  often  so 
greatly  bowed  down  and  afflicted,  that  neither  life  it- 
self, nor  any  outward  privilege,  did  seem  too  dear  to 
me  to  resign,  or  oiler  up  for  their  sakes. 

"  And  the  life,  peace,  satisfaction,  and  comfort,  that 
many  innocent  Friends  felt,  and  that  some  expressed 
and  signified  on  their  death-beds,  I  arn  a  living  witness 
of  for  them;  having  at  some  times,  as  the  Lord  hath 
drawn  me  in  his  lov(;,  been  present  with  many  of  them, 
when  they  were  very  low  in  the  outward  man,  and 
with  divers  when  upon  their  death  beds,  both  in  that 
destructive  place  of  Wewgate,  and  some  other  places. 
Yea,  when  sorrow  and  sadness  have  seized  upon  my 
spirit,  and  my  heart  and  soul  have  been  pierced  and 
wounded  when  1  have  seen  the  sad  sullerings  of  so 
many  harmless  lambs,  when  they  were  on  their  sick 
beds  in  these  noisonie  holes  and  prisons ;  yet  at  the 
same  time,  having  had  a  deep  sense  and  knowledge  of 
the  Lord's  love  and  care  to  them  in  that  condition,  and 
having  truly  felt  his  Life  and  Power  stirring  amongst 
them;  this,  on  the  other  hand,  has  refreshed  and  re- 
vived mv  spirit,  knowing  that  (Jhrist,  their  Salvation 
and  Redemption,  was  manifest  (o  and  in  them,  though 
in  that  suffering  state.  Having  followed  and  obeyed 
Him  through  sufferings  and  tribulations,  with  such  to 
live  was  Christ,  even  in  that  state;  and  to  die  was  gain  ; 
it  being  through  death  that  the  Lord  had  appointed  the 
final  deliverance  of  many,  from  the  cruelties  and  rod 
of  their  oppressors,  and  from  the  miseries  and  evils  to 
come. 

"  And  also  the  faithfulness,  uprightness,  and  innocen- 
cy  of  divers  of  those  that  were  taken  away,  and  their 
constancy  of  spirit  to  the  Lord  and  his  living  Truth, 
and  their  unfeigned  love  to  the  brethren,  by  the  which 


202  MEMOIRS    OF 

it  was  evident  Ihcy  had  passed  from  death  to  life,  and 
that  living  and  faithful  teslimony  they  did  hear  for  the 
Lord  in  their  lifetime,  heing  well  known  and  manifest 
amongst  us;  their  memoriafis  truly  precious  to  us,  and 
never  to  he  forgotten  ;  and  we  are  satisfied  that  they 
were  counted  worthy  for  the  Lord;  and  the  world  was 
not  worthy  of  them. 

"And  now  if  such  as  take  advantage  against  us  on 
the  occasion  aforesaid,  whether  they  he  open  or  secret 
smiters  or  enemies,  did  either  riglitly  or  seriously  come 
to  weigh  their  conditions,  and  let  God's  witness  judge 
in  the  case,  they  have  no  cause  to  boast,  glor\ ,  or  insult 
over  us,  or  against  us;  for  that  they  are  not  their  own 
keepers,  nor  is  their  life  continued  by  their  own  power  ; 
and  how  soon  their  time  may  be  expired,  and  their 
judgment  overtake  them,  they  know  not,  nor  how  soon 
their  days  may  be  cut  asunder.  Certainly  their  con- 
demnation slumbers  not,  who  in  the  pride  of  their  hearts 
and  presumption  of  their  spirits,  turn  against  the  suf- 
fering seed  of  God,  under  what  profession  and  pretence 
soever.  And  knowing  also,  that  many  that  were  of 
their  own  spirit  and  principle,  have  also  been  taken 
away  under  the  same  calamity;  for  it  has  extended  to 
all  sorts,  both  holy  and  profane;  they  have  cause  to 
dread  and  fear  before  the  Lord,  and  not  to  be  high 
nninded  nor  presumptions  ;  for  the  mouth  of  the  boaster 
and  exalted  must  be  stopped,  and  all  flesh  and  carnal 
reason  is  to  be  silent  in  this  matter,  for  God's  power  is 
over  it  all. 

"  Now  my  dear  Friends  and  tender  hearts,  commit 
your  way  to  the  Lord,  and  cast  your  burden  upon  Him, 
and  He  will  bear  you  up  and  sustain  you,  by  his  own 
right  hand  of  power.  And  live  in  the  Immortal  Seed 
and  spiritual  communion,  where  Life  and  peace  is  daily 
received,  and  your  mutual  refresl)ment  and  consola- 
tion stands,  and  wherein  the  spirits  of  just  men  are  seen 
and  felt,  and  the  life  of  God's  faithful  servants  and  mar- 
tyrs, and  such  as  have  finished  their  teslimony  with 
joy  and  peace,  is  enjoyed  ;  even  in  this  spiritual  com- 


G.    WHITEUEAD.  203 

munion,  which  reaches  heyond  all  visiblcs,  and  is  above 
all  mortal  and  fading  objects  or  things.  ISo  in  the  dear 
and  tender  love  of  God,  which  dwells  and  lives  in  my 
heart  towards  you,  and  all  the  faithful  every  where, 
1  commit  you  to  Him  in  whom  our  help  and  deliverance 
is;  and  in  the  kingdom  of  Christ's  patience,  am  your 
dear  and  faithful  friend  and  brother, 

G.  W." 

The  next  year,  after  the  city  and  suburbs  of  London 
were  so  greatly  thinned  and  depopulated  by  the  plague, 
the  dreadful  fire  began,  and  broke  out  in  Pudding  lane, 
over  against  the  place  where  the  monument  stands; 
whereby,  in  a  few  days  time,  a  very  great  part  of  the 
city,  within  the  walls,  was  burnt  down  and  the  habita- 
tionsconsumed,  except  a  few  streets  and  parts  of  streets, 
to  the  great  amazement,  terror,  and  distraction  of  the 
inhabitants;  who  were  forced  to  flee  for  their  lives, 
with  what  goods  they  could  save,  into  Moorfields  and 
the  out  parts,  and  there  to  lie  abroad  with  their  goods 
for  several  nights  and  days  ;  the  country  bringing  in 
bread,  &-c.  for  their  relief.  Oh  !  my  soul  greatly  pitied 
the  inhabitants,  when  I  saw  them  lie  in  the  fields,  in 
that  poor  mournful  condition. 

One  passage  I  may  not  omit  by  the  way,  because  it 
has  been  misrepresented  and  false  reports  spread  about 
it,  viz.  one  Thomas  Ibbott,  or  Ibbit,  a  Huntingdonshire 
man,  came  to  London  two  days  before  the  fire,  in  great 
haste,  being  on  a  sixth  day  of  the  week,  and  alighted  off 
his  horse  with  his  clothes  loose,  (supposed  by  some  to  be 
a  person  under  distraction  or  discomposure  of  mind,  as 
I  understood  by  divers,)  and  very  much  hastened  or  run 
through  the  city,  toward  Whitehall,  in  such  a  like  pos- 
ture as  many  of  the  inhabitants  were  forced  to  flee 
from  the  fire,  when  they  had  scarce  time  to  put  on  or 
fasten  their  wearing  clothes  about  them  ;  such  a  sign 
he  appeared  to  be,  and  foretold  his  vision  which  he  had 
before,  that  the  cily  would  be  laid  waste  by  fire,  ac- 
cording as  I  was  informed  ;  for  I  saw  him  not  until  that 


204  MEMOIES  OF 

day's  morning  when  the  fire  was  broken  out.  But  the 
evening  after  the  said  Thomas  Ibbott  had  passed 
through  the  city,  I  met  with  some  of  our  women 
Friends  at  the  Bull  and  Mouth,  near  Aldersgate,  who 
gave  me  a  pretty  full  account  of  him  ;  how  he  had  been 
with  them  that  day,  and  told  them  his  vision  of  the  fire 
and  message  to  London  :  and  that  to  them  he  appeared 
very  zealous  and  hot  in  his  spirit,  when  he  told  them 
tl.ereof;and  they  were  afraid  he  was  under  some  dis- 
composure of  mind,  which  made  them  somewhat  ques- 
tion or  doubt  of  what  he  told  them. 

Yet  I  was  not  at  that  time  without  some  secret  fear, 
concerning  this  Friend  Thomas  Ibbott,  lest  he  might 
run  out,  or  be  exalted  by  the  enemy  into  some  con- 
ceit or  imagination  or  other,  especially  when  he  saw 
his  vision  come  to  pass  the  next  morning.  It  was  when 
the  fire  had  broken  out  as  aforesaid,  from  the  place 
where  it  began,  and  early  in  the  morning  was  got  down 
to  the  bridge  and  Thames-street,  the  wind  easterly  and 
so  high  that  it  drove  the  fire  more  violently  and  irresis- 
tibly before  it,  blowing  great  flakes  over  houses  and 
from  one  to  another. 

Also  in  a  letter  of  his,  a  few  days  before  the  fire  was 
over,  he  mentioned  the  true  number  of  days  when  the 
vision  of  fire  should  be  accomplished  ;  so  that  he  had  a 
certain  vision  and  discovery  given  him  in  that  particu- 
lar. And  to  show  that  there  remained  a  sincerity  in  the 
man,  when  his  mind  came  to  be  settled  he  wrote  a 
letter  to  some  Friends  in  London,  wherein,  after  remem- 
bering his  love  to  G.  W.  J.  C.  and  S.  H.  he  hath  these 
words  following,  viz. 

.*•!  dare  not  much  stir  up  or  down  any  ways,  for 
peop'e's  looking  at  what  was  done,  lest  the  Lord  should 
be  olTended,  farther  then  my  own  outward  business 
lies. 

"  I  have  been  much  tempted  and  exercised ;  yet 
through  mercy  have  found  help  in  the  needful  time. 
Whatsoever  slips  or  failings  Friends  saw  in  me,  in  the 
time  1  was  with  them,  1  would  have  none  take  notice 


G.    WHITEHEAD.  205 

of;  for  I  was  under  great  exercises  and  often  run  too 
fast,  which  the  Lord  in  his  due  time  gave  me  a  sight 
of.    In  the  love  of  my  Father,  Atrcweli, 

♦'  T.  I."* 


*  Though  by  no  means  anxious  to  search  after  what  may  be 
deemed  the  manieUous  in  connexion  with  the  history  of  our  Society, 
deeming  the  gift  of  prophecy,  in  the  sense  of  speaking  unto  men  to 
edification,  more  to  be  esteemed  tiian  the  speaking  in  unknown 
tongues  or  than  other  marvellous  gifts,  yet  neither  am  I  disposed 
ta  exclude  all  extraordinary  circumstances  from  religious  history  or 
biography.  Nothing  is  more  fallacious  than  our  schemes  of  what  is 
fitting  to  the  Divine  economy.  Both  in  nature  and  in  grace  it  may 
truly  be  said,  that  "  God  moves  in  a  mysterious  way;"  and  I  can- 
not see  either  the  philosophy  or  the  piety  of  denying  well  authenli- 
cated  fads,  because  we  may  not  be  able  to  reconcile  them  with  our 
system,  or  with  what  is  called  the  natural  course  of  things.  Let 
what  is  extraordinary  be  carefully  investigated — but  surely  well 
authenticated  testimony  in  regard  to  facts,  is  stronger  evidence 
than  any  which  can  be  brought  against  it,  drawn  from  our  notions  of 
the  Divine  economy.  If  wo  could  see  the  whole  course  of  Divino 
Providence,  we  should  probably  find  that  many  of  our  wisest  ge- 
neralizations had  been  hasty  and  imperfect,  and  have  in  regard  to 
these,  to  confess  that  we  had  known  but  a  very  small  portion  of  the 
Diiine  ways.  It  is  reasonable  therefore  to  expect  many  exceptions 
to  our  rules;  and  it  is  the  part  of  true  philosophy  to  collect  rather 
than  to  reject  them. 

Whatever  might  be  the  weakness  of  the  man,  how,  without 
some  supernatural  direction,  he  should  be  led  to  proclaim  the  ap- 
proach of  so  extraordinary  an  event,  is  to  me  inexplicable.  Of 
those  who  admit  the  authenticity  of  the  fact,  many  will  probably 
attribute  the  presentiment  to  a  morbid  brainular  action,  and  assert 
that  such  an  instrument  could  not  be  employed  to  declare  the  Di- 
vine dis[)leasure  at  the  prevailing  profligacy  and  cruelty,  and  to 
call  men,  by  the  evidence  of  the  Divino  prescience  and  retributive 
Providence,  to  turn  from  the  evil  of  their  ways.  I  confess  I  cannot 
60  philosophize;  but  whatever  may  be  the  true  explication  of  the 
circumstances,  I  beg  it  may  be  observed  that  the  weakness  of  the 
man  appears  to  have  been  rightly  estimated  by  his  friends;  and 
that  neither  before  nor  subsequently  to  this  extraordinary  affair, 
was  he  a  person  of  any  influence  in  the  Society, 

This  observation  will  be  confirmed  by  Sewel's  account  of  the 
transaction:  "Thomas  Ibbit  of  Huntingdonshire  came  to  London 
a  few  days  before  the  burning  of  that  city,  and,  as  hath  been  relat- 
ed by  eye-witnesses,  did  upon  his  coming  thither  alight  from  his 
horse,  and  unbutton  his  clothes  in  so  loose  a  manner  as  if  they  had 
been  put  on  in  haste,  just  out  of  bed.  In  this  manner  he  went 
about  the  city  on  iho  sixth,  being  the  day  he  came  there,  and  also 

VOL.    I.  S 


2^6  MEMOIRS    OF 

When  the  city  was  burnt  down  and  laid  in  ashes, 
we  had  our  meetings  on  the  fourth-day,  weekly,  near 
Wheeler-street;  our  usual  place,  the  Bull  and  Mouth, 
beini^  then  demolished  by  the  fire,  at  which  place  our 
meetings  had  been  most  disturbed  ;  and  at  other  out 
parts,  olfand  about  the  city,  we  kept  our  meetings  at 
the  usual  times  and  places,  as  at  the  Peel  in  St.  John's 
street,  Westminster ;  liorslydown,  on  Southwark  side ; 
RatclifT,  Devonshire-house,  Old  Buildings  ;  and  then 
had  some  respite  and  ease  from  violent  persecution  and 
disturbance  for  a  time,  until  the  city  came  in  a  great 
measure  to  be  rebuilt. 

Yet  still  the  persecuting  spirit  and  design  of  perse- 
cution remained  in  our  adversaries:  so  many  of  them 
as  were  not  cut  off  by  the  plague  took  no  warning  there- 
by, nor  by  the  subsequent  consuming  fire  which  had 
laid  waste  the  best  part  of  the  city. 


the  seventh  day  of  the  week,  pronouncing  a  judgment  by  fire, 
v.hicli  should  lay  waste  the  city.  On  the  evening  of  those  days, 
some  of  his  friends  had  meetings  with  him,  to  enquire  concerning 
his  message  and  call  to  pronounce  that  impending  judgment ;  in 
his  account  whereof  he  was  not  more  particular  and  clear  tlian  that 
he  said,  he  had  had  for  some  time  the  vision  tiiereof,  but  had  de- 
layed to  come  and  declare  it  as  commanded,  until  he  felt,  as  he  ex- 
pressed it,  the  fire  in  his  own  bosom  ;  which  message  or  vision  was 
very  suddenly  proved  to  be  sadly  true.  The  fire  begun  on  the  2nd 
of  September,  1666,  on  the  first  day  of  the  week  ;  which  did  im- 
mediately follow  those  two  days,  the  said  Thomas  Ibbit  had  gone 
about  the  city  declaring  that  judgment. 

"  Havitig  gone  up  and  down  the  city  as  hath  been  said,  when 
afterwards  he  saw  the  fire  break  out,  and  beheld  the  fulfilling  of  his 
prediction,  a  spiritual  pride  seized  on  him,  which  if  othershad  not 
been  wiser  than  he,  might  have  tended  to  his  utter  destruction  ;  for 
the  fire  being  couie  as  far  as  the  east  end  of  Cheapside,  he  placed 
himself  before  the  flame,  and  spread  his  arms  forth,  as  if  to  stay 
the  progress  of  it ;  and  if  one  Thomas  Matthews,  with  others, 
had  not  pulled  him,  seeming  now  altogether  distracted,  from  thence, 
it  was  like  he  might  have  perished  by  the  fire.  Yet  in  process  of 
time,  as  I  have  been  told,  he  came  to  some  recovery,  and  confess- 
ed this  error:  an  evident  proof  of  human  weakness,  and  a  noto- 
rious instance  of  our  frailty,  when  we  assume  to  ourselves  the  do- 
ing of  any  thing  which  Heaven  alone  can  enable  us." — yol.  ii.  p. 
199,  200.  Editor. 


G.    WHITEHEAD.  207 

Though  the  Lord  our  God  was  pleased  to  give  our 
Friends  in  London,  faith  and  courage  as  well  as  resolu- 
tion to  build  our  meeting-house  in  White-Hart  court, 
by  Grace-church  street ;  yet  we  were  not  then  without 
expectation  of  further  persecution  and  suffering,   for 
meeting  in  that  as  well  as  other  places  in  and   about 
the  city.     And  so  it  came  to  pass  after  the  said  meet- 
ing house  was  built ;  our  meetings  were  frequently  dis- 
turbed, especially   on  first  days  of  the  week,  by   the 
trained  bands  and  informers  ;  and  many  of  us  forcibly 
haled  out,  and  our  meetings  often  kept  in   the  street, 
where  sometimes  we  had  opportunities  openly  to  de- 
clare the  Truth  and   preach  the  Gospel,  as  well  as 
publicly  to   pray  to  Almighty   God  ;  yet   not  always 
suffered  so  to  do,  but  often  in  the  very  time  violently 
pulled  away,  whilst  in  the  exercise  of  the  Gospel  minis- 
try ;  and  likewise  when  we  have  been  in  solemn  pray- 
er to  Almighty  God,  we   have  been    laid  hold  on  and 
violently  taken,  and  many  of  us  had  to  the  Exchange, 
and  there  kept  under  a  guard  of  soldiers  until  the  af- 
ternoon ;  and  then  had  before  the  mayor,  who  would 
be  ready  to  fine  or  imprison  us,  or  otherwise  to  bind  us 
over  to  appear  at  the  sessions,  or  rather  to  tak'^,  our 
words  to  appear,  if  he  was  a  person  of  some  moderation 
toward  us:  and  the  latter  obligation  we  rather  chose, 
that  was,  conditionally  to  promise  w^e  would  appear  if 
the   Lord  pleased,  rather  than  be  bound  by  recogni- 
zance or  bond  to  appear ;  because  commonly  in  their 
recognizances  they  would  put  the  words,  "  and  in  the 
mean  time  to  be  of  the  good  behaviour."  But  we  could 
not  assent  to  be  so  bound ;  because  we  knew  they  would 
interpret  our   religious,  solemn  meetings  a  breach  of 
"  the  good  behaviour ;"  which  meetings  we  could  ne- 
ver yield  to  decline. 

But  as  for  me;  my  share  has  been  imprisonment  of- 
tener  than  liberty  upon  parole  or  promise,  being  more 
cautious  of  being  any  ways  ensnared  thereby,  contra- 
ry to  my  Christian  liberty  and  testimony,  than  of  im- 
prisonment or  outward  confinement ;  w  hieh  was  not 


308  MEMOIRS    OF 

only  my  own  care,  respecting  my  inward  peace  and 
liberty  in  Christ  Jesus,  but  it  was  also  the  care  of  all 
faithful  Friends  and  brethren  in  those  days,  to  keep 
out  of  all  such  snares  as  would  infringe  that  liberty. 
We  chose  rather  to  expose  our  persons  to  be  trampled 
on  in  the  streets,  by  our  persecuting  adversaries,  if  per- 
mitted, than  bow  down  our  souls  at  their  command. 
Isa.  li.  23. 

Although  in  those  suffering  times,  I  was  much  con- 
cerned to  attend  our  Friends'  disturbed  meetings  in  and 
about  London,  yet  at  sundry  times  1  had  a  concern  laid 
upon  me  to  visit  our  Friends  and  their  meetings  in  the 
county  of  Surrey,  particularly  on  that  side  where  our 
dear  friend  Stephen  Smith  and  his  flimily  lived  ;  they 
having  not  long  before  that  time,  in  great  love,  received 
theTruth  through  my  testimony,  as  before  related  ;  and 
I  visited  and  had  divers  good  and  blessed  meetingsin  those 
parts,  both  at  Stephen  Smith's  house  at  Purbright,  and 
other  places  towards  Guilford;  where  the  Lord  was 
with  me,  helped  and  comforted  me  in  his  work  and.  ser- 
vice, as  at  other  times  and  places. 

George  Whitehead  apprehending  that  his  post  in 
serving  and  suffering  for  the  cause  he  had  espoused, 
was,  in  future,  likely  to  be  chiefly  in  London,  he  thought 
of  entering  into  the  married  state  and  settling  there; 
and  in  the  year  1609,  he  married  Ann  Greenwel,  a 
widow  residing  in  London  ;  who,  it  appears,  was  a  per- 
son much  esteemed  for  her  piety  and  attachment  to  the 
cause  of  Truth,  of  which  she  had  been  one  of  the  first 
receivers. 

She  was  considerably  older  than  her  husband  ;  but 
the  connexion  appears  to  have  furnished  a  true  help- 
meet to  him,  imtil  her  death  in  the  year  1680.  He 
remained  a  widower  two  years,  during  which  he  had 
some  doubts  whether  he  should  marry  again ;  but 
having  earnestly  sought  the  Lord  to  direct  him  aright, 
he  felt  freedom  to  enter  again  into  the  married  slate; 
(being  also  encouraged  in  the  step  by  his  friends ;)  and 


G.    WHITEHEAD.  209 

made  proposals  to  a  Friend  of  the  name  of  Ann  God- 
dard,  "  an  honest  and  virtuously  inclined  maid  ;"  who 
wasconsidcrably  younger  than  himself,  andof  whom  and 
their  connexion  he  says  :  "  She  was  an  ingenious  and 
careful  wife ;  and  we  were  mutually  comforted  togeth- 
er, in  true  love  and  tender  atf'ection.  We  had  but  one 
child,  which  the  Lord  took  away,  it  dying  in  the  birth. 
Howbeit,  He  (the  Lord)  so  sanctified  that  and  other 
disappointments  and  afllictions  to  us,  in  this  lower  world, 
that  He  gave  us  faith  and  patience  to  bear  them,  and 
to  look  above,  beyond  all  external  objects  of  delight  and 
afflictions  here  below,  which  are  but  momentary,  to  an 
eternal  inheritance  in  his  heavenly  kingdom.  Glory 
to  His  excellent  Name  for  ever  !" 


s  2 


(  210  ) 


SECTION  XI. 

Occurrences  1666  to  1670 — George  Whitehead,  in  1670,  taken 
from  a  meeting  in  Grace-church  street. — The  mayor  orders  a 
priest  to  read  prayers  and  preach  in  Friends'  meeting-house. — 
Other  meetings  disturbed. — An  order  of  court  to  prevent  Friends 
meeting  at  Horsiydown. — Proceedings  thereupon. 

Having  in  those  particulars  of  the  domestic  history, 
given  by  the  author,  travelled  beyond  the  period  of  the 
general  narrative;  we  return  to  the  account  which  he 
gives  of  the  sufferings  of  himself  and  his  friend:^,  after 
the  fire  of  London. 

George  Whitehead  has  passed  over  the  interval  be- 
tween iC6G  and  1G70,  nearly  without  notice.  His 
work  is,  however,  so  much  of  a  history  of  the  Society, 
in  those  eventful  times,  that  it  may  not  be  improper  to 
supply  a  few  particulars. 

The  operation  of  the  act  for  suppressing  conventicles, 
passed  in  the  year  1G64,  expired  in  1667  ;  and  although 
the  remaining  laws  under  which  the  Quakers  and  other 
dissenters  had  previously  suffered,  were  sufficient  to 
keep  up  the  practice  of  persecution,  yet  they  were  per- 
mitted, during  the  years  1667  and  1668,  to  hold  their 
religious  meetings  with  rather  less  disturbance  than 
heretofore.  The  extraordinary  encouragement  also 
given  by  the  Conventicle  Act  to  wicked  informers  be- 
ing withdrawn,  those  years  were  comparatively  times 
of  ease  ;  and  the  Society,  after  all  its  sufferings,  was 
strengthened  and  encouraged.  Many  of  its  most  ac- 
tive members  had,  during  the  last  few  years,  witnessed 
a  good  confession,  and  had  sealed  with  their  blood  the 
cause  in  which  they  were  engaged.  Others  not  less 
able  or  devoted,  arose  to  fill  tbe  places  of  those  who 
were  removed;  Amongst  those  we  may  mention  the 
names  of  Robert  Barclay  and  William  Penn,  the  for- 


G.    wniTEnEAD.  211 

mer  of  whom  in  1667,  and  (he  latter  in  1668,  embraced 
the  principles  of  the  despised  Quakers  ;  esteeming  the 
reproach  of  Christ  greater  riches  than  all  the  honours 
and  treasures  of  the  world. 

The  distresses  of  the  country  from  the  plague,  fire, 
and  war,  seemed  to  have  had  little  if  any  etTect,  in 
softening  men's  minds  towards  those  who  dilfered  from 
them  on  religious  matters,  or  in  promoting  even  an  ex- 
ternal show  of  virtue.  Licentiousness  and  extrava- 
gance still  pervaded  the  court;  nor  did  the  corruption 
stop  here — it  pervaded  alike  the  clergy  and  the  repre- 
sentatives of  the  people.  Vice  might  be  said  preemi* 
nently  to  reign,  and  it  is  not  surprising  therefore  that 
religion  and  virtue  should  sutler. 

In  the  year  1670  the  Conventicle  Act  was  revived  in 
Parliament,  and  re-enacted  with  two  additional  clauses; 
which  were,  "  that  if  any  justice  of  peace  refuse  to  do 
his  duty  in  the  execution  of  this  act,  he  shall  forfeit  five 
pounds ;  and  secondly,  that  all  the  cluuses  of  this  act, 
shall  be  construed  most  largely  and  beneficially  for  the 
suppressing  conventicles,  and  for  the  justification  and 
encouragement  of  all  persons  to  be  employed  in  the  ex- 
ecution of  them." 

George  Whitehead  observes,  that  the  avowed  object 
of  this  act  was  "  To  prevent  and  suppress  seditions  con- 
venticles ;"  but  the  obvious  design  was,  to  force  a  gene- 
ral conformity  to  the  Liturgy  and  practice  of  the 
Church  of  England.  And  the  agents  chielly  employed 
in  the  work,  were  a  company  of  loose,  idle,  profligate, 
and  mercenary  informers :  by  that  law  let  loose  to 
seek  honest  people's  ruin,  by  making  great  havoc  and 
spoil  upon  their  goods.  And  these  worthless  creatures 
often  boasted  to  the  poor  conscientious  sufTerers,  that 
they  were  servants  to  the  ki\g  a\d  the  church;  and 
that  they  would  make  them  leave  their  conventicles, 
and  conform. 

The  informers  were  too  often  encouraged  in  their 
proceedings  by  persecuting  magistrates;  and  they  were 
much  stimulated  also   by  their  own  desire  of  gain : 


212  ME3I0IKS     OF 

being  entitled  to  a  third  part  of  the  fines  on  conviction, 
for  which  the  testimony  of  two  of  them,  on  oath,  before 
one  magistrate,  was  sufficient.  George  Whitehead 
justly  observes,  that  "such  partial  prosecution,  convic- 
tion, and  punishment,  against  free-born  Englishmen,  as 
this  act  imposed,  were  expressly  contrary  to  the  great 
charter,  and  to  the  common  law  and  justice  of  Eng- 
land, and  destructive  of  their  properties  and  birth- 
right." 

Whilst  the  proceedings  of  the  government,  in  direct 
opposition  to  the  king's  declaration  on  his  return,  could 
not  but  excite  some  feelings  of  just  indignation  in  the 
minds  of  the  sufferers;  it  is  quite  clear  from  their  his- 
tory, that  they  were  never  led  into  any  political  com- 
binations or  opposition  to  the  government.  Like  the 
early  Christians,  their  only  arms  were  prayers  and 
patience  ;  and  their  firm  stand  for  liberty  of  conscience, 
by  meekly  enduring  whatever  the  support  of  it  ex- 
posed them  to,  at  length  obtained  what,  in  all  proba- 
bility, more  violent  proceedings  would  have  sought  in 
vain.* 

*  Neale  very  justly  observes,  in  regard  to  the  new  Conventicle 
Act,  that  "  the  wit  of  man  could  hardly  invent  any  thing,  short  of 
capital  punishment,  more  cruel  and  inhuman."  "It  is  evident," 
he  says,  after  repelling  the  imputation  of  seditious  conduct  on  the 
part  of  the  dissenters,  "  that  the  act  was  levelled  purely  against 
liberty  of  conscience,  and  was  so  severely  execuled,*that  there  was 
hardly  a  conventicle  to  be  heard  of  all  over  England.  Great  num- 
bers were  prosecuted  on  this  act,  and  many  industrious  families 
reduced  to  poverty. 

"  The  behaviour  of  the  Quakers  was  very  extraordinary,  and 
had  something  in  it  that  looked  like  the  spirit  of  martyrdom.  They 
met  at  the  same  place  and  hour  as  in  times  of  liberty,  and  when 
the  officers  came  to  seize  them,  none  of  them  would  stir  ;  they 
went  altogether  to  prison  ;  they  staid  there  till  they  were  dismiss- 
ed ;  for  they  would  not  petition  to  be  set  at  liberty,  nor  pay  the 
fines  set  upon  them,  nor  so  mu^h  as  the  prison  fees.  When  they 
were  discharged  they  went  to  their  meeting-house  again  as  before  ; 
and  when  the  doors  were  shut  up  by  order,  they  assembled  in  great 
numbers  in  the  street  before  the  doors,  saying,  they  would  not  be 
ashamed  nor  afraid  to  meet  together  in  a  peaceable  manner  to  wor- 
ship God  ;  but  in  imitation  of  the  prophet  Daniel,  they  would  do 
it  more  publicly  because  they  were  forbid.     Some  called  this  oh- 


O.    WHITEHEAD.  213 

Whilst  the  Society  of  Friends  fully  evinced  their  wil- 
lingness to  suffer,  ratlier  than  violate  their  consciences, 
they  did  not  scruple  to  use  legal  means  to  avoid  con- 
viction, under  the  persecuting  edict  made  against  them  ; 
and  to  represent  the  extent  and  unreasonableness  of 
their  sufferings,  to  the  king  and  the  government.  This 
will  appear  from  the  following  statement,  which  George 
Whitehead  makes,  of  the  proceedings  which  took  place 
subsequently  to  the  passing  of  the  last  mentioned  act 
for  suppressing  conventicles. 

On  the  fifth  day  of  the  4th  month,  1G70,  our  Friends 
being  met  as  usual  in  a  peaceable  manner,  at  their 
meeting-house  in  Grace-church  street,  London  ;  and 
George  Whitehead  being  moved  publicly  to  pray  to 
God,  in  time  of  prayer  was  laid  hold  on  by  some  of  the 
soldiers,  pulled  away,  and. haled  out  of  the  meeting; 
as  was  also  John  Bolton,  an  ancient  citizen,  for  declar- 
ing the  Truth  to  the  people.  They  were  both  had  to 
the  Exchange,  and  there  kept  six  hours ;  after  which, 
according  to  order,  they  appeared  at  Guild  Hall,  before 
Sir  Joseph  Sheldon,  &c.  Whereupon  George  White- 
head called  for  their  accusers,  to  have  them  face  to 
face. 

Some  of  the  soldiers  being  called  to  give  evidence, 
George  Whitehead  warned  them  to  take  heed  what 
they  swore  ;  and  he  also  warned  Joseph  Sheldon,  and 
the  rest  with  him,  to  do  nothing  but  what  they  could 
answer  for  before  the  great  God,  who  would  judge  right- 
eously :  for,  said  he,  "  we  apprehend  that  we  are  taken 
contrary  to  law,  even  to  this  present  act,  viz.  by  sol- 

Btinacy,  others  firmness;  but  by  it  they  carried  their  point,  the 
government  being  weaty  of  contending  against  so  much  resolu- 
tion."    History  of  the  Puritans,  vol.ii.  page  562. 

It  was  soon  after  liie  passing  of  this  act,  that  the  celebrated  trial 
of  William  Penn  and  William  Mead  took  place,  for  meeting  for 
religious  worship  in  Grace-church  street,  the  doors  of  the  meeting- 
house bfing  closed  against  them.  Editor. 


214  MEMOIRS    OF 

diers,  where  there  was  no  resistance  made  by  any  of 
us  ;  we  desire  to  be  heard." 

Joseph  Sheldon  said :  "  If  you  be  illegally  convicted, 
you  may  make  your  appeal:"  endeavouring  to  stop 
George  Whitehead  from  pleading. 

George  Whitehead.  "  1  desire  to  be  heard,"  &.c.  But 
being  interrupted  several  times,  he  said :  "  I  require 
you  in  point  of  justice  to  hear  me,  being  a  free-born 
Englishman,"  &.C.,  whereupon  they  did  a  little  permit 
him. 

George  Whitehead.  "  We  would  not  have  you  that 
are  our  judges,  in  the  mean  time  to  prejudice  your  own 
consciences,  by  an  illegal  conviction  ;  nor  to  do  any 
thing  but  as  you  will  answer  the  great  God ;  for  we 
have  a  tenderness  to  your  consciences." 

Joseph  Sheldon.  "  Well,  we  must  answer  for  what 
we  do :  take  you  no  care  for  that,"  &.c. 

The  witnesses  being  upon  their  oaths,  one  affirmed, 
that  George  Whitehead  was  preaching  or  teaching 
when  they  took  him. 

Joseph  Sheldon  commanded  the  witnesses  to  be  gone 
or  depart. 

George  Whitehead.  "- 1  desire  the  witnesses  may  stay 
till  I  have  answered."  Bui  Joseph  Sheldon  urged  them 
still  to  depart. 

George  Whitehead.  "  They  have  absolutely  forsworn 
themselves  ;  for  1  was  not  preaching  nor  teaching  when 
they  took  me." 

A  person  that  stood  by  the  justice  said  :  "  You  were 
praying  when  they  took  you." 

George  Whitehead.  "  Take  notice ;  this  man  has 
forsworn  himself,  in  saying  that  1  was  preaching,"  &c. 
Nevertheless  the  clerk  wrote  down,  George  Whitehead 
an  offender  ;  but  what  judgment  was  given  by  the  jus- 
tices against  him  or  John  Bolton,  they  did  not  hear, 
cither  of  fine  or  imprisonment  at  that  time.  The  Lord 
was  pleased  sometimes  to  touch  the  consciences,  even 
of  some  of  the  magistrates  and  our  adversaries,  where- 
by they  were  stopped  in  their  proceedings,  and  pre- 


G.    WHITEHEAD.  215 

vented  from  running  us  to  the  extreme  severity  and 
penalties  of  the  persecuting  laws. 

On  the  26th  day  of  the  4th  month,  1670,  being  the 
first  day  of  the  week,  our  Friends  being  again  assem- 
bled in  their  meeting  place  aforesaid,  in  While-hart 
court,  Sir  Samuel  Starling,  then  lord  mayor,  and  some 
others,  having  ordered  a  priest  to  be  there,  he  read 
common  prayer  and  preached  a  sermon  in  the  gallery; 
seeming  to  preach  up  and  excite  to  love,  according  to 
these  scriptures  of  Paul,  Ephes.  v.  2,  and  iv.  2,  15,  &c. 
The  commendation  of  love,  &c.  being  the  priest's  chief 
subject ;  but  contrary  thereto,  in  the  time  of  his  preach- 
ing, the  soldiers  being  present  to  guard  him  and  disturb 
us,  were  rude  and  abusive  to  divers  of  our  Friends,  for 
speaking  a  few  words  to  the  priest,  to  show  him  how 
contrary  their  actions  were  to  his  preaching ;  though 
he  did  not  rebuke  nor  stop  them  from  their  rudeness 
and  violence  to  our  Friends,  women  as  well  as  men. 

A  great  concourse  of  people  were  present  at  the 
meeting ;  many  to  attend  the  priest,  and  many  out  of 
curiosity  and  novelty,  to  hear  and  see  what  work  the 
priest  and  his  company  would  make ;  for  it  seemed  a 
very  strange  thing,  to  see  a  minister  of  the  Church  of 
England,  stand  up  and  read  common  prayer,  say  or 
sing  their  service,  and  preach  in  a  Quaker's  meeting, 
dtemed  an  unlawful  conventicle ;  and  therein  to  preach 
up  love  and  charity,  and  at  the  same  time  to  be  attend- 
ed and  guarded  with  a  company  of  soldiers,  to  appre- 
hend and  persecute  the  Quakers,  for  an  unlawful  meet- 
ing or  conventicle  at  the  same  time  and  place. 

After  sermon  was  ended,  George  Whitehead  stood 
up  and  preached  the  gospel  of  peace  and  love,  to  show 
how  contrary  thereto  persecution  was,  &c.  Where- 
upon the  people  present  were  quiet  and  still,  and  gave 
audience ;  and  the  meeting  was  in  a  peaceable  posture 
for  a  little  time,  until  two  rude  fellows,  with  the  sol- 
diers following  them,  violently  pulled  the  said  George 
down,  and  by  their  force  pushed  down  some  women 
present,  and  carried  him  to  the  mayor's  and  kept  him 


216  MEMOIRS    OP 

a  while  in  his  yard.  His  name  and  some  false  infor- 
mation against  hinn,  being  carried  in  to  the  mayor,  he 
quickly  sent  out  a  warrant  to  commit  him  to  the  comp- 
ter, then  in  the  gatehouse  at  Bishopsgate,  for  making  a 
disturbance,  &.c.  until  he  should  find  sureties  or  was 
delivered  by  law  ;  and  this  without  first  calling  in  or 
admitting  George  Whitehead  to  be  heard  in  his  own 
defence. 

But  George  Whitehead  obtaining  a  sight  of  the  war- 
rant of  commitment,  desired  to  speak  with  the  lord 
mayor  himself,  which  some  of  his  officers  made  way 
for;  whereupon  George  Whitehead  told  the  mayor, 
that  there  was  a  mistake  in  the  warrant,  which  was 
that  charge  against  him  for  making  a  disturbance,  &.C. 
for  there  was  no  such  thing;  he  made  no  disturbance, 
but  contrariwise,  quieted  the  people  by  seasonable 
advice  and  counsel.  To  which  the  mayor  said,  he 
would  examine  further  into  it  after  evening  prayer ; 
but  in  the  mean  time  sent  George  Whitehead  to  the 
compter  at  Bishopsgate,  and  in  the  evening  sent  for  him 
again  ;  and  then  said  to  George  Whitehead  :  "  Your 
women  have  disturbed  the  minister ;"  asking  him  fur- 
ther :  "  Do  they  not  disturb  you  ?"  George  Whitehead 
answered :  "  That  there  was  a  concourse  of  people  of 
all  sorts,  many  not  being  our  Friends,  who  made  a 
noise  ;  but  for  our  women,  some  did  speak  something 
as  they  might  judge  it  their  duty  ;  and  probably  some 
thought  they  might,  seeing  the  priest's  hearers  did 
speak  ;  the  priest  one  sentence  and  they  another,  that 
is,  in  their  versicles;  and  when  they  cried.  Lord  have 
mercy  upon  us,  some  of  the  women  did  cry,  '  Woe  to 
you  hypocrites.' " 

After  other  discourse  between  George  Whitehead 
and  the  mayor,  the  constable  and  another  with  him 
were  sworn ;  and  all  that  (hey  could  testify  was,  that 
he  stood  up  and  preached  after  their  minister  had  end- 
ed ;  but  what  he  preached  they  could  not  tell.  The 
mayor  said  :  If  the  minister  had  done  all,  it  was  a  con- 


G.    WHITEHEAD.  217 

venticle,  and  1  must  fine  you  twenty  pounds.     And 
then  after  he  said,  forty  pounds. 

George  Whitehead  said :  "  If  I  had  preached  sedition 
or  discord,  against  either  the  government  or  peace  of 
the  nation,  if  that  could  be  made  appear  against  me,  1 
might  justly  suffer  by  this  law;  being  entitled,  an  act 
to  prevent  and  suppress  seditious  conventicles.  But 
seeing  the  witnesses  cannot  tell  what  I  did  preach,  I 
may  signify  the  substance  and  tendency  thereof,  viz.  a 
necessity  being  laid  upon  me,  woe  had  been  unto  me  if 
I  had  not  preached  the  Gospel ;  and  it  was  no  other 
than  the  Gospel  of  peace  and  salvation  by  Christ  Jesus, 
that  I  preached  ;  to  exalt  the  power  of  godliness,  direct- 
ing people  thereunto  in  Christ,  that  they  might  not  re- 
main under  empty  and  lifeless,  or  dead  forms  of  profes- 
sions," &c. 

The  mayor  said :  "  I  believe  both  you  and  others  do 
good,  or  have  done  good  with  your  acting,"  &c. 

Observation.  "  See  then  how  evident  it  is,  that  what 
we  suffer  is  for  doing  good,  and  not  for  any  sedition  or 
injury." 

The  mayor  said :  "  Well,  I  must  fine  you  forty  pounds, 
this  being  the  second  offence ;  you  were  convicted  be- 
fore Sir  Joseph  Sheldon  once  before." 

George  Whitehead  "  Must  I  suffer  for  preaching  the 
Gospel  of  peace,  as  if  1  had  been  preaching  sedition? 
This  is  strange :  doth  the  law  make  no  difference  ? 
Besides,  I  was  not  convicted  according  to  this  law  be- 
fore justice  Sheldon  ;  for  it  was  there  made  appear, 
that  the  witness  forswore  himself  against  me,  as  some 
there  that  stood  by  testified  ;  for  he  swore  that  he  took 
me  preaching,  when  many  could  testify,  as  some  there 
did  affirm,  that  I  was  praying,  and  not  at  that  time 
preaching. 

Mayor.  "  But  were  you  on  your  knees  with  your  hat 
off,  when  they  took  you  ?" 

George  Whitehead.  "  Yea,  I  was ;  and  the  meeting  was 
in  a  reverent  posture  of  prayer,  the  men  with  their  hats 

VOL.  I.  T 


218  MEMOIRS    OF 

ofF;  and  the  soldiers  pulled  mc  down  when  I  was  pray- 
ing." 

Mayor.  "  However,  you  were  in  a  religious  exercise," 
&,c. 

George  Whitehead.  "  If  praying  to  God  must  be  ac- 
counted a  religious  exercise  not  allowed  by  the  Liturgy ; 
yet  I  do  not  understand  that  praying  is  included  in  that 
clause,  which  mentions  preaching  or  teaching,  &,c.  As 
where  it  is  said :  '  That  every  person  who  shall  take 
upon  him  to  preach,  or  teach  in  any  such  meeting,  as- 
sembly, or  conventicle,  and  shall  thereof  be  convicted 
as  aforesaid,  shall  forfeit  for  every  such  first  offence, 
the  sum  of  twenty  pounds.'  Now  here  is  no  praying 
mentioned  ;  therefore  1  desire  thy  judgment,  whether 
preaching  or  teaching  can  be  meant  praying  ?" 

Mayor.  "  No,  praying  is  not  there  mentioned  ;  how- 
ever your  conviction  is  recorded,  you  may  make  your 
appeal." 

George  Whitehead.  "  To  whom  shall  I  make  my  ap- 
peal, but  to  those  that  wrong  me  ?" 

Mayor.  "  I  must  do  according  to  law  ;  I  must  fine 
you  foity  pounds." 

George  Whitehead.  "  Then  I  must  be  fined  for  preach- 
ing the  Gospel  of  peace,  as  if  I  had  been  preaching  se- 
dition :  by  this  it  is  all  a  case,  to  preach  sedition  or  the 
Gospel  of  peace.  But  such  a  law  as  makes  no  differ- 
ence between  preaching  sedition,  and  preaching  the 
Gospel  of  peace,  I  must  deny  as  being  both  against  rea- 
son and  against  God.  And  God  who  judges  righteous- 
ly, and  by  whom  actions  are  weighed,  will  judge  be- 
tween thee  and  us  in  this  thing." 

1  do  not  remember  that  the  line  threatened  upon  this 
pretended  conviction,  was  ever  levied  upon  my  goods ; 
though  divers  others  were  to  great  excess. 

At  another  time,  on  a  4th  day  of  the  week,  1  was 
taken  out  of  a  meeting  at  White-hart  court,  by  an  oflS- 
cer  abetted  by  some  others,  and  had  before  the  said 
Samuel  Starling,  lord  mayor;  where  information  was 
given  against  me,  that  I  was  taken  at  such  a  meeting ; 


G.    WniTEIIEAD.  219 

and  the  question  being :  What  did  I  do  there  ?  or,  what 
manner  of  religious  exercise  had  we  I  The  officer  an- 
swered :  He  took  mc  preaching.  The  mayor  would 
needs  have  it,  that  it  was  a  conventicle  ;  and  our  ex- 
ercise of  religion  contrary,  or  not  according  to  the  Li- 
turgy and  practice  of  the  Church  of  England.  I  an- 
swered :  "  The  witness  does  not  prove  that."  He  ques- 
tioned if  the  Liturgy  or  common  prayer  was  read  among 
us  at  that  meeting?  I  told  him,  "  he  should  not  pro- 
ceed against  mc  beyond  his  evidence :  what  says  the 
witness?  we  are  not  bound  to  accuse  ourselves:  the 
witness  does  not  say  any  such  thing,  as  that  we  exercised 
religion  contrary  to  the  Liturgy  ;  neither  does  he  evi- 
dence that  we  had  not  the  Liturgy  read  among  us  ;  he 
can  only  say,  he  came  into  the  meeting  when  I  was 
preaching  and  took  me  preaching  ;  but  does  not  know 
what  I  preached :  so  that  he  came  into  the  meeting  in 
sermon  time,  and  the  Liturgy  or  common  prayer  used 
not  to  be  read  in  sermon  time."  This  allegation  I  used 
to  him,  because  he  deemed  our  meeting  as  a  conventicle, 
and  unlawful  if  the  common  prayer  was  not  read  in  it ; 
and  therefore  I  urged  the  evidence  he  had,  which 
did  not  prove  the  matter  of  fact  against  me,  or  any  of 
us  who  were  at  the  said  meeting ;  so  that  he  could  not 
reasonably  proceed  against  us  upon  the  evidence  given  ; 
vet  I  told  him  our  manner  of  relio;ious  exercise  was  well 
known. 

I  had  some  religious  discourse  with  the  said  lord 
mayor  at  some  certain  times,  and  endeavoured  to  pos- 
sess him  with  better  principles  than  those  of  persecu- 
tion, &c. ;  he  being  something  of  a  professor  of  religion, 
and  sometimes  touched  with  Truth,  carried  it  more 
fairly  toward  me  than  some  other  persecutors  did,  and 
1  had  some  fairer  quarter  from  him  than  from  some 
other  magistrates;  he  was  not  one  of  the  worst  of  per- 
secutors in  those  days,  though  sometimes  too  much  con- 
cerned with  others  in  that  unchristian  work  of  persecu- 
tion. 

On  the  17th  day  of  the  5th  month,  1670,  being  the 


220  mi:moirs  ok 

first  day  of  the  week,  Friends  were  kept  without  doors 
in  the  street,  near  their  nnecting  house,  at  Peel  in  St 
John's  street,  by  the  rude  soldiers  and  a  constable ;  and 
when  two  men  spake  a  few  words  of  truth  and  sober- 
ness, the  soldiers  came  and  violently  pulled  them  away ; 
and  as  they  came  to  take  them,  some  were  so  violent 
that  they  pushed  divers,  both  men  and  women,  with 
their  muskets,  and  tore  part  of  Mary  Wicks's  clothes 
and  pinched  her,  bruising  some  of  the  men  Friends  with 
their  muskets ;  whereupon  one  Friend  cried  out  to  the 
constable,  to  keep  the  peace. 

George  Whitehead,  near  the  latter  end  of  the  meet- 
ing, being  moved  in  much  tenderness  and  brokennessof 
spirit  to  call  upon  the  Lord  in  prayer,  the  soldiers  came 
rudely,  and  violently  pulled  him  away  into  the  entry 
among  them.  He  told  them  of  their  wickedness  and 
incivility  toward  the  women,  and  how  below  both  sol- 
diers and  the  spirit  of  men  they  acted,  in  abusing  both 
peaceable  men  and  women  as  they  had  done.  Pre- 
sently after  they  pulled  into  their  centry  or  guard,  John 
Scott  and  Samuel  Richardson,  and  these  three  they 
detained  in  their  custody  near  three  hours  ;  and  then  a 
great  company  of  soldiers  guarded  them  into  an  ale 
house  near  Clerkenwell,  where  two  justices  were,  viz. 
justice  Foster  and  justice  Coules,  with  a  great  company 
of  the  king's  horsemen  or  guard  before  the  door. 

As  George  Whitehead  and  his  Friends  were  brought 
to  the  door,  he  called  out  for  justice,  saying:  "  I  am 
glad  we  are  come  before  the  civil  magistrates ;  we  de- 
sire justice  of  you  against  the  soldiers,  who  have  kept 
us  out  of  our  meeting  in  the  street,  and  taken  us  con- 
trary to  law,  even  contrary  to  the  present  act  of  Par- 
liament ;  which  requires  not  them  to  meddle  with  meet- 
ings, unless  where  resistance  is  made,  and  upon  certi- 
ficate thereof,  as  the  act  mentions." 

George  Whitehead  several  times  called  for  justice, 
as  they  would  answer  to  the  great  God  of  heaven  and 
earth,  who  will  judge  righteously  between  us.  The 
justice  said :  "  You  shall  have  justice."     Whereupon  a 


G.    WHITEUEAD.  221 

major  on  horseback  said  to  the  justice :  "  Sir,  he  will 
preach  till  night  if  you  will  hear  him." 

The  justice  bowed  with  his  hat  off  to  the  major,  and 
showed  him  great  reverence  and  readiness  to  convict 
the  prisoners.  The  major  and  captain  with  others 
alighted,  and  came  in  to  see  the  two  justices  do  their 
work  against  the  prisoners;  and  the  red  coats  were 
called,  and  many  of  them  came  in  to  bear  witness  against 
us ;  but  George  Whitehead  excepted  against  them  as 
unlawful  witnesses.  Howbeit,  contrary  to  law  and 
equity,  they  were  put  upon  their  oaths  to  witness  against 
the  prisoners  ;  the  justices  not  at  all  cautioning  them 
to  take  heed  what  they  swore;  but  the  major  did. 
What  they  informed  against  George  Whitehead  upon 
oath  was,  that  there  were  about  three  hundred  persons 
met  in  the  street ;  and  that  they  took  him  preaching, 
standing  on  a  bulk  or  stall. 

George  H'hitthead  answered  :  "  That  is  not  true  ;  I 
was  praying  standing  on  the  ground,  but  leaning  on  a 
stall." 

Soldiers.  "We  took  him  praying,  but  leaning  on  a 
bulk." 

George  Whitehead.  "  See  how  confused  and  con- 
tradictory they  are  in  their  evidence,  for  preaching  and 
praying  are  two  things ;  neither  is  praying  mentioned 
in  that  clause  of  the  act,  that  is  made  against  such  as 
take  upon  them  to  preach  or  teach." 

Justice  Foster.  "  You  conjured  them  together  to  the 
meeting." 

G''nrge  JVhilehtad.  "  That  is  not  true ;  for  they  were 
gathered  together  before  I  came  to  the  meeting." 

Major.  "  He  does  as  much  as  tell  the  justice  he 
lies." 

George  Whitehead.  "I  do  not  tell  him  he  lies;  but 
I  say  again,  it  is  false  that  I  conjured  the  people  toge- 
ther." The  major  reproved  the  soldiers  for  going  be- 
yond his  order,  in  going  out  into  the  street  to  take  our 
Friends ;  saying :  '•  I  gave  you  order  only  to  keep  them 
out  in  the  street,  and  you  to  keep  centry  at  the  door." 

T  2 


222  MEMOIRS    OF 

Justice  Boules.  "  Sir,  but  after  you  were  gone,  1  or- 
dered them  to  take  those  that  preached,  and  I  thank 
them,"  &-C. 

Justice  Foster.  "  What  a  devil  did  you  come  to  pray 
for?" 

George  Whitehead.  "  Do  these  words  become  a  ma- 
gistrate 1  We  did  not  meet  to  hear  or  sing  ballads  in 
the  street,  nor  do  we  meet  at  play-houses,  nor  at  drink- 
ing houses,  to  be  drunk  where  the  devil  is  served ;  but 
singly  to  serve  and  worship  the  living  God,  for  which 
we  suffer. 

"  1  accuse  none ;  but  tell  you  what  meetings  we  do 
not  come  at  nor  own,  and  for  what  end  we  do  meet," 
&c. 

The  information  the  soldiers  gave  against  John  Scott 
was,  that  they  took  him  preaching ;  which  was,  because 
when  they  came  with  violence  he  desired  them  to  be 
moderate ;  and  what  crime  did  he  thereby  commit  1 

Their  information  against  Samuel  Richardson  was, 
that  he  laid  violent  hands  upon  one  of  their  muskets ; 
but  this  was  utterly  false,  and  denied  by  Samuel  Rich- 
ardson ;  for  he  was  standing  peaceably,  as  he  said, 
with  his  hands  in  his  pocket  in  the  meeting. 

Then  the  justices  seeming  to  incline  to  convict  the 
prisoners  upon  the  act  against  conventicles,  George 
Whitehead  had  a  few  words  with  them  about  i(,  plead- 
ing to  prevent  their  severity.  But  justice  Foster  urg- 
ing to  liave  them  convicted,  two  warrants  were  made, 
and  the  said  George  Whitehead,  John  Scott,  and  Sa- 
muel R,ichardson  were  had  to  New-prison  by  the  con- 
stable and  soldiers  ;  the  troopers  all  the  time  of  their 
examination  standing  before  the  door  v\'here  they  were. 
It  was  observable,  in  their  mittimus  they  missed  set- 
ting down  George  Whitehead's  name  ;  and  instead 
thereof  set  down  Arthur  Gotten,  who  was  a  soldier  that 
helped  to  take  them. 

The  next  day  after  the  commitment,  the  two  justices 
aforesaid  came  to  the  prison ;  and  when  they  had  call- 
ed George  Whitehead  into  the  room  to  them,  they  ask- 


G.    WHITEHEAD.  223 

ed  him  his  name  and  place,  which  he  answered  ;  and 
then  they  spoke  to  this  purpose,  that  they  had  several 
laws  which  they  could  proceed  upon  against  him,  and 
particularly  the  statute  of  Oxford,  the  oath,  &c. 

The  clerk  having  the  oath  of  allegiance  in  his  hand, 
written  with  blanks  left  for  the  names,  and  a  law  book 
before  them. 

George  fVhitehead  answered:  "  I  desire  you  would 
not  go  about  to  ensnare  us,  for  the  law  was  not  made 
to  make  men  transgressors,  but  to  punish  them  where 
it  finds  such.  We  were  apprehended  and  accused  as 
breakers  of  the  late  act  against  conventicles ;  let  us 
first  be  tried  upon  that  act,  and  cleared,  and  not  have 
new  snares  laid  for  us." 

Justice  Foster.  "  We  will  not  lay  snares  for  you  ;  if 
you  will  pay  your  twenty  pounds  you  shall  be  dis- 
charged." 

George  Whitehead  answered  something  about  the 
said  act,  as  not  justly  chargeable  thereby  ;  but  they 
quickly  caused  him  to  withdraw,  and  called  in  John 
Scott,  who  had  a  long  discourse  with  them  ;  they  ac- 
cused him  for  being  an  old  soldier,  and  proffered  him 
the  oath  according  to  the  Oxford  act,  made  against 
nonconformist  ministers,  &c. ;  which  he  refusing  to  take, 
they  threatened  to  detain  him  in  prison  six  months.  After 
which  they  again  called  in  George  Whitehead  and  Sa- 
muel Richardson,  and  asked  George  Whitehead  if  he 
would  pay  his  twenty  pounds?  and  if  he  would  promise 
to  come  no  more  at  the  meeting  at  Peel  ? 

George  Whitehead  answered  :  "  1  cannot  pay  any  fine 
for  praying  to  God,  or  worshipping  Him ;  and  as  for 
promising  to  come  no  more  there,  I  am  not  my  own,  I 
stand  in  the  will  of  God :  neither  can  I  promise  any 
such  thing,  as  to  forbear  coming  to  worship  or  pray  to 
God." 

One  of  them  asked  Sanmel  Richardson  :  "  Will  you 
promise  to  come  no  more  at  meeting." 

Sanmel  Richardson.    "  I  can  promise  no  such  thing." 

So  they  having  fined   George   Whitehead   twenty 


224  MEMOIRS    OF 

pounds,  as  they  said,  but  it  was  not  levied,  and  Sannuel 
Richardson  live  shillings,  they  discharged  them.  But 
detained  John  Scott  in  prison  six  months,  on  the  Oxford 
act  supposed ;  though  he  was  no  noncoiiiormis.t  minister 
nor  pretending  to  holy  orders;  and  then  what  great 
crime  had  they  against  liim,  in  his  desiring  moderation 
from  the  rude  and  violent  soldiers  ? 

We  were  sensible  of  the  Lord's  power  and  presence, 
and  that  He  stood  by  us  and  strengthened  us,  in  bear- 
ing our  faithful  Christian  testimony  for  his  name  and 
and  worship,  through  all  tliese  exercises  and  persecu- 
tions ;  and  I  was  sensible  also,  that  the  Lord  our  God 
would  plead  our  innocent  cause,  and  that  He  often  did 
plead  it,  even  in  the  consciences  of  many  of  our  adver- 
saries, prosecutors,  and  judges,  and  that  sometimes 
thev  were  hard  put  to  it,  to  carry  on  their  work  against 
us;  and  many  times  the  Lord  our  God  was  pleased  sO 
to  restrain  the  remainder  of  their  wrath,  as  not  to  suffer 
them  to  proceed  to  the  execution  thereof,  nor  of  the 
evils  thereby  designed :  glory,  honour,  and  dominion, 
be  to  our  God  and  to  the  Lamb,  for  ever  and  ever  ! 

In  the  8th  month,  1670,  having  been  in  the  country 
and  returning  (o  London,  I  grew  sick  ;  and  my  sick- 
ness turning  to  an  ague  and  fever,  I  became  very  weak 
in  body,  so  that  for  some  weeks  there  appeared  little 
hopes  of  recovery  ;  and  I  remained  in  much  weakness 
until  about  the  beginning  of  tlic  second  month,  1G71, 
and  part  of  that  summer;  and  then  it  pleased  the  Lord 
gradually  to  restore  me  to  health  and  strength. 

In  that  sickness,  when  most  weak  in  l)ody,  being  well 
prepared  and  freely  resigned  in  the  will  of  the  Lord  to 
die,  that  I  might  ever  be  with  Him ;  I  had  an  opening 
or  apprehension,  that  when  1  died  my  soul  should  be 
received  into  the  bosom  of  my  Heavenly  Father. 

While  I  was  in  gieat  weakness  of  body,  I  was  divers 
times  told  of  the  great  and  cruel  suffering  of  our  Friends 
in  Southwark,  for  meeting  together  at  their  usual  meet- 
ing-place at  Horslydown  ;  how  barbarously  and  cruelly 
they  were  used,  and  grossly  abused  by  soldiers  and 


G.    WHITEHEAD.  225 

armed  men,  both  horse  and  foot ;  being  not  only  kept 
out  of  their  meeting-house  in  the  street,  but  both  men 
and  women  were  violently  pushed  with  muskets  and 
other  weapons,  beaten,  bruised,  hurt,  and  wounded, 
and  much  blood  shed  by  the  blows  and  wounds  from 
those  inhuman,  cruel,  and  barbarous  persecutors  and 
brutish  persons.  The  distressing  accounts  of  these 
and  such  barbarities  against  the  innocent,  did  very 
sorrowfully  affect  me;  and  1  deeply  sympathized  in 
spirit  with  the  innocent  suflferers,  earnestly  praying  to 
Almighty  God  for  them,  that  He  would  preserve  and 
deliver  them,  and  rebuke  that  persecuting  spirit  by 
which  they  sulfered :  earnest  prayers,  with  tears,  being 
then  the  Church's  very  great  concern,  which  the  Lord 
our  God  in  his  own  time  graciously  heard  and  answer- 
ed :  blessed  be  his  name  ! 

The  barbarous  persecution  against  our  said  meeting 
in  Southwark,  was  caused  by  the  following  order. 

"  At  the  Court  at  Whitehall,  the  20th  or  July, 
1670. 

Present, 
The  Kings  Most  Excellent  Majesty. 
His  Highness  prince  Rupert       Earl  of  Anglesey 
Lord  Archbishop  of  Canterbury  Earl  of  Bath 
Lord  Keeper  Earl  of  Craven 

Duke  of  Monmouth  Lord  Ashley 

DukeofOrmond  Mr.  Treasurer 

Earl  of  Ossory  Mr.  Vice-Chamberlain 

Earl  of  Oxford  Mr.  secretary  Trevor. 

His  majesty  being  informed,  that  there  have  been  of 
late,  frequent  conventicles  and  seditious  meetings,  under 
pretence  of  religious  worship,  contrary  to  and  in  con- 
tempt of  the  laws  established,  at  a  house  or  building  at 
Horslydown,  adjoining  to  the  artillery  garden  ;  and  that 
the  persons  who  there  assemble  behave  themselves  in 
such  a  riotous  and  tumultuous  manner,  that  if  their 
meetings  be  any  longer  endured,  his  majesty's  peace  and 
the  quiet  of  the  government  will  thereby  be  manifestly 


226  MEMOIRS  OP 

endangered.  For  the  prevention  whereof  it  was  this 
day  ordered,  his  majesty  present  in  council  and  by  his 
express  command,  that  Christopher  W'ren,  esq.  surveyor 
general  of  his  majesty's  works,  do  cause  the  said  house 
or  building  to  be  j)uHed  down  and  demolished,  in  case 
from  henceforth  any  persons  whatsoever,  shall  presume 
to  meet  or  hold  any  conventicle  or  unlawful  assembly 
therein,  under  colour  of  religious  worship:  and  it  was 
further  ordered  by  his  majesty,  that  this  signification  of 
this  his  royal  pleasure,  be  affixed  on  the  said  building ; 
to  the  end  that  the  owners  and  occupiers  of  the  same 
may  take  notice  thereof,  to  prevent  and  hinder  such 
meetings  at  their  peril. 

"  JoiiiV  Nicholas." 

This  order  was  both  affixed  on  the  door  of  the  meet- 
ing-house and  soon  after  put  in  execution  ;  for  they  sent 
and  very  much  spoiled  and  pulled  down  the  meeting- 
house, and  took  away  the  boards,  windows,  benches, 
and  forms,  and  sold  them. 

It  is  observable,  that  there  was  no  judicial  trial  or 
legal  proceeding  in  this  hard  case,  but  an  order  ground- 
ed upon  information  of  our  meetings  being  conventicles, 
seditious,  riotous,  and  tumultuous ;  which  information 
was  altogether  unjust,  and  notoriously  false. 

Howbeit,  our  innocent  Friends,  as  obliged  in  con- 
science toward  Almighty  God,  resolved  to  keep  their 
solemn  meetings  in  His  dread  and  fear;  not  being  ter- 
rified therefrom  by  the  rage  and  violence  of  their  per- 
secutors, but  constantly  resorted  to  their  said  meeting- 
house on  first  days,  while  it  was  standing;  and  after  it 
was  pulled  down  removed  (he  rubbish,  that  they  might 
meet  on  the  ground  where  their  own  house  stood  ; 
which  they  did,  until  by  force  haled  away  and  barbar- 
ously used  by  the  soldiers. 

On  the  25th  of  the  7th  month,  1670,  Friends  being 
peaceably  assembled  at  their  usual  meeting-place 
aforesaid ;  there  came  some  musqueteers  and  haled 
them  forth  into  the  street,  where  the  troopers  came  and 


G.    WHITEHEAD.  227 

rode  in  among  them,  in  a  violent,  furious  manner,  beat- 
ing and  abusing  both  men  and  women,  punching  them 
in  the  face  and  bodies  with  their  carbines ;  and  soon 
after  the  foot  soldiers  came  and  fell  upon  them  also, 
and  beat  both  men  and  women  in  a  cruel  and  outrage- 
ous manner,  also  punching  them  on  the  feet  with  the 
but-ends  of  their  muskets,  till  they  broke  some  of  them; 
also  running  the  muzzle  of  their  muskets  violently 
against  the  bodies  of  many  ;  and  then  a  party  of  horse 
came  desperately  and  strove  to  ride  over  them  ;  but 
the  horses  being  more  merciful  or  naturally  more  gen- 
tle than  the  riders,  would  not  go  forward  to  tread  the 
people  underfoot ;  then  the  riders  turning  them,  curbed 
and  reigned  them  to  do  mischief. 

The  number  of  those  that  were  wounded  and  sorely 
bruised  this  day,  was  above  twenty  persons. 

On  the  2nd  day  of  the  8th  mon(h,  they  being  kept 
out  of  their  meeting-place  aforesaid,  there  came  a 
party  of  foot  and  a  party  of  horse,  and  laid  on  Friends 
in  a  violent  and  cruel  manner,  knocking  them  with  their 
muskets  and  pikes,  and  the  horsemen  with  their  car- 
bines, until  the  blood  lay  in  the  streets ;  and  so  they 
continued  for  some  time,  until  they  broke  several  pikes 
and  muskets  and  one  carbine;  and  several  were  so 
beaten  and  bruised  that  their  lives  were  in  danger. 
They  that  were  wounded  and  sorely  bruised  this  day, 
were  above  thirty  persons. 

On  the  9th  of  the  8th  month,  the  soldiers,  horse  and 
foot,  came  to  the  meeting  at  the  aforesaid  place ;  and 
one  of  them  having  a  shovel,  threw  dirt  and  mire  upon 
both  men  and  women,  in  a  shameful  manner.  After 
him,  both  horse  and  foot  furiously  fell  upon  them; 
striking  and  knocking  down,  without  regard  to  age  or 
sex,  in  a  very  cruel  manner,  until  they  shed  blood  from 
many.  And  when  some  of  the  inhabitants  in  pity  took 
them  into  their  houses,  to  save  their  lives,  the  soldiers 
forced  open  the  doors  and  haled  them  out  again  into 
the  street,  and  plucked  off  their  hats  that  they  might 
strike  on  their  bare  beads,  insomuch  that  many  had 


228  MEMOIRS    OF 

their  heads  broken  in  a  grievous  manner  ;  and  thus  they 
continued  for  some  time  ;  also  tearing  men  and  wo- 
men's clothes  off  their  backs,  and  haling  women  through 
the  mire  by  their  horses'  sides ;  some  of  the  foot  sol- 
diers using  obscene  expressions,  and  very  indecent  be- 
haviour. A  red  coat  soldier  struck  one  woman  Friend 
twice  on  the  body  wiih  his  musket,  and  once  on  the 
breast ;  another  flung  dirt  in  her  face,  so  that  she  mis- 
carried, and  hath  never  since  been  well  through  their 
abuses ;  whereby  she  did  both  lose  her  child,  and  her 
own  life  was  greatly  endangered.  A  man  Friend,  after 
he  had  sufTered  by  blows,  was  carried  into  the  meeting- 
place,  where  one  demanded  his  money  and  endeavoured 
to  rifle  his  pockets,  cursing  and  threatening  he  would 
stab  him,  if  he  did  not  give  it  him ;  again  swearing 
that  lie  would  pistol  him. 

The  number  of  those  sorely  bruised,  and  that  had 
of  their  blood  shed  that  day,  was  above  fifty  persons. 

And  on  the  10th  day  of  the  8th  month,  1G70,  being 
again  kept  out  of  their  meeting-place,  there  came  a 
party  of  horse  and  foot  ready  to  fall  again  violently 
upon  our  Friends :  but  some  constables  for  some  little 
time  kept  them  off.  Howbeit,  at  last  they  broke  out 
into  a  rage,  and  some  of  the  foot  with  the  but-ends  of 
their  muskets,  and  the  horsemen  with  great  truncheons 
and  staves,  did  so  furiously  lay  on  and  beat  them  who 
were  met,  as  if  they  would  have  killed  all  in  the  place  ; 
causing  the  blood  to  run  down  about  the  ears  of  many, 
insomuch  that  above  twenty  persons  then  received  sore 
wounds  and  bruizes ;  and  one  constable  endeavouring 
to  stop  them  from  shedding  blood,  and  to  keep  the 
peace,  they  fell  upon  him  also  and  broke  his  head  ;  and 
when  they  were  reprehended  for  their  cruelty,  some 
answered  :  "  If  you  knew  what  orders  we  have,  you 
would  say  we  dealt  mercifully  with  you." 

The  substance  of  the  foregoing  account  was  present- 
ed to  the  king  and  his  council,  and  for  a  time  there  was 
some  cessation  of  these  cruelties ;  but  afterward  they 
begun  in  the  like  manner,  though  not  to  the  same  de- 


G.  WHITEHEAD.  229 

"gree,  yet  with  great  threatenings  to  be  worse  and 
worse  towards  our  Friends;  which  could  not  well  be, 
except  they  were  directly  to  commit  murder  on  the 
place. 

It  was  observed,  that  when  the  troopers  and  soldiers 
have  come  and  thus  abused  and  wounded  the  innocent, 
some  have  asked  them,  saying:  "  How  can  you  deal 
thus  with  a  people  that  have  love  and  good  will  to  all 
men,  and  make  no  resistance  nor  opposition  ?"  They 
have  replied  :  "  We  had  rather  and  it  would  be  better 
for  us,  if  they  did  resist  and  oppose :"  as  if  they  wanted 
occasion  to  embrue  their  hands  in  innocent  blood,  and 
have  the  lives  and  estates  of  honest  people  for  a  prey. 
But  as  they  never  could  get  any  such  occasion  against 
us,  so  the  Lord  our  most  gracious  God,  for  his  own  name 
and  Truth's  sake,  restrained  the  remainder  of  our  ad- 
versaries' wrath,  frustrated  their  evil  purposes,  and 
disappointed  their  mischievous  designs.  And  in  Him 
we  have  trusted,  who  has  helped  and  delivered  us  out 
of  many  troubles. 


VOL.    1.  u 


(    230   ) 


SECTION  XII. 

Persecution  continued  with  little  abatement  till  the  king's  declara- 
tion in  1672. — George  Whitehead  successfully  applies  to  the 
king  for  the  liberation  of  about  four  hundred  of  his  friends — He 
travels  with  the  king's  Letters  patent  under  the  great  seal,  to 
obtain  the  discharge  of  his  friends  in  Essex,  Suffolk,  Huntingdon- 
shire, Cambridgeshire,  Norfolk  and  Hertfordshire.  He  consults 
Judge  Hale  on  the  release  of  Friends  in  the  distant  counties — 
Procures  their  release  bymeansof  the  sheriffs  coming  to  London. 

There  was  but  little  respite  from  persecution  in 
twelve  years  time,  from  the  year  IGGO  to  1672,  in 
which  was  the  last  war  at  sea  betwen  the  English  and 
Dutch;  so  that  one  judgment  and  calamity  followed 
another,  plague,  fire,  and  war,  unto  great  depopulation 
and  devastation,  showing  God's  heavy  displeasure 
against  persecution  and  cruelty,  and  that  spirit  which 
had  been  so  highly  at  work  against  innocent,  conscien- 
tious, and  honest  people ;  yet  many  persecutors  were 
so  hardened,  that  they  repented  not  of  their  cruelties, 
and  we  have  observed  in  our  times,  how  suddenly  the 
Lord  swept  away  many  of  that  sort. 

Howbeit  by  this  time,  1671-2,  the  king  did  seem  to 
bethink  himself,  to  take  other  measures  than  to  continue 
persecution  to  destroy  his  own  subjects,  not  knowing 
what  issue  the  Dutch  war  against  him  might  come  to ; 
insomuch  that  he  published  a  declaration  of  indulgence 
to  dissenters,  to  suspend  the  execution  of  penal  laws  in 
matter  ecclesiastical,  entitled, 

"  His  majesty^s  Declaration  to  all  his  loving  subjects, 
dated  March  15,1671  2.  Published'Jjy  the  advice  of  his 
Privy  Council.^''  The  principal  heads  whereof  are  as  fol- 
lows^ viz. 

"  Our  care  and  endeavours  for  the  preservation  of  the 


MEMOIRS,    <SiCC.  231 

rights  and  interests  of  the  church,  have  been  sufficiently 
manifested  to  the  world,  by  the  whole  course  of  our 
government  since  our  happy  restoration,  and  by  the 
many  and  frequent  ways  of  coercion  that  we  have  used 
for  reducing  all  erring  and  dissenting  persons,  and  for 
composing  the  unhappy  differences  in  matters  of  reli- 
gion, which  we  found  among  our  subjects  upon  our  re- 
turn, 

"  But  it  being  evident,  by  the  sad  experience  of 
twelve  years,  that  there  is  very  little  fruit  of  all  those 
forcible  courses,  we  think  ourselves  obliged  to  make  use 
of  that  supreme  power  in  ecclesiastical  matters,  which 
is  not  only  inherent  in  us,  but  hath  been  declared  and 
recognized  to  be  so  by  several  statutes  and  acts  of  par- 
liament. 

"  And  therefore  we  do  now  accordingly  issue  out 
this  our  declaration,  as  well  for  the  quieting  the  minds 
of  our  good  subjects  in  these  points,  for  inviting  stran- 
gers in  this  juncture  to  come  and  live  under  us,  and  for 
the  better  encouragement  of  all  to  a  cheerful  following 
of  their  trades  and  callings ;  from  whence  we  hope,  by 
the  blessing  of  God,  to  have  many  good  and  happy  ad- 
vantages  to  our  government. 

"  And  in  the  first  place,  we  declare  our  express  re- 
solution, meaning,  and  intention  to  be,  that  the  Church 
of  England  be  preserved,  and  remain  entire  in  its  doc- 
trine, discipline,  and  government,  as  now  it  stands  es- 
tablished by  law,  &.C. 

"  We  do  in  the  next  place  declare  our  will  and  plea- 
sure to  be,  that  the  execution  of  all.  and  all  manner  of 
penal  laws  in  matters  ecclesiastical,  against  whatsoever 
sort  of  Nonconformists  or  Recusants,  be  immediately 
suspended,  and  they  are  hereby  suspended.  And  all 
judges,  sherilfs,  justices  of  the  peace,  &c.  are  to  take 
notice  of  it,  and  pay  due  obedience  thereunto. 

"  And  we  do  declare,  that  we  shall  from  time  to  time 
allow  a  sufficient  number  of  places,  as  they  shall  be 
desired,  in  ail  parts  of  this  our  kingdom,  for  the  use  of 
such  as  do  not  conform  to  the  Church  of  England,  to 


232  MKMOIRS    OF 

meet  and  assemble  in,  in  order  to  their  public  worship 
and  devotion  :  which  places  shall  be  open  and  free  to 
all  persons. 

"  To  prevent  such  disorders  and  inconveniencies  as 
may  happen  by  this  our  indulgence,  if  not  duly  regulat- 
ed, and  that  they  may  be  the  better  protected  by  the 
civil  magistrate,  our  express  will  and  pleasure  is,  that 
none  of  our  subjects  do  presume  to  meet  in  any  place, 
until  the  same  be  allowed,  and  the  teacher  of  that  con- 
gregation be  approved  by  us. 

"And — we -do  further  declare,  that  this  our  indul- 
gence, as  to  the  allowance  of  public  places  of  worship, 
and  approbation  of  teachers,  shall  extend  to  all  sorts  of 
non-conformists  and  recusants,  except  the  recusants  of 
the  Roman  Catholic  religion,  to  whom  we  shall  in  no 
wise  allow  public  places  of  worship,  but  only  indulge 
them  their  share  in  the  common  exemption  from  the 
execution  of  the  penal  laws,  and  the  exercise  of  their 
worship  in  their  private  houses  only. 

"  And  if  after  this  our  clemency  and  indulgence,  any 
of  our  subjects  shall  presume  to  abuse  this  liberty,  and 
preach  seditiously,  die. — We  will  let  them  see  we  can 
be  as  severe  to  punish  such  offenders — as  we  are  indul- 
gent to  truly  tender  consciences."* 

*  There  is  every  reason  to  believe,  that  this  declaration  of  the 
king  was  mainly,  if  not  wholly  designed  to  favour  the  advance- 
ment of  Popery  and  arbitrary  {Government;  and  that  if  he  had  been 
able  to  effect  his  purposes,  both  in  regard  to  civil  and  ecclesiastical 
matters,  the  dissenters  would  have  been  placed  in  even  a  worse  sit- 
uation than  before. 

It  is  not  at  all  surprising,  that  a  people  so  deeply  oppressed  as 
the  Quakers  were  at  this  time,  and  taking  so  little  part  in  political 
affairs,  should  see,  in  the  declaration,  the  favour  rallier  than  the 
da7i"-er.  Neal  says  :  "The  proteslant  non-conformists  had  no  opin- 
ion of  the  dispensing  power,  and  were  not  forward  to  accept  of  lib- 
erty in  that  w.iy  ;  they  were  sensible  the  indulgence  was  not  grant- 
ed out  of  love  to  them,  nor  would  continue  any  longer  than  it 
would  serve  the  interest  of  popery."  Other  motives,  however,  than 
the  fear  of  popery,  appear  to  have  influenced  many  of  the  non-con- 
formists. They  did  not  approve  of  a  general  toleration;  but 
"  maintained  tliat  it  was  setting  up  altar  against  altar,  and  that 
they  should  accept  of  nothing  but  a  comprehennon"  ia  other  words, 


G.  WHITEHEAD.  233 

This  declaration  may,  however,  justly  be  said  to  re- 
cord the  result  of  king  Charles's  terrible  experiment, 
during  twelve  years,  to  compose  matters  of  dillerence 
in  religion,  and  to  reduce  what  he  called  erring  and 
dissenting  persons,  by  "  forcible  courses ;"  an  experi- 
ment made  in  direct  opposition  to  the  declaration  from 
Breda.  The  confession  of  the  result  which  the  decla- 
ration contains,  was,  there  is  reason  to  believe,  far  from 
being  generally  palatable;  independently  of  the  politi- 
cal objection  to  the  mode  in  which  it  was  made.  It  gave, 
nevertheless,  a  great  check  to  persecution,  and  enabled 
both  the  Quakers  and  other  dissenters,  to  meet  for  re- 
ligious worship  without  disturbance,  and  without  being 
a  prey  to  the  rapine  of  wicked  informers. 

There  were,  however,  at  this  time,  above  four  hun- 
dred Friends  in  prison,  for  conscience'  sake:  some  were 
under  sentence  of  banishment,  some  of  premunire,  and 
some  had  endured  ten  or  eleven  years'  imprisonment. 

The  state  of  these  his  suffering  brethren  deeply  af- 
fected the  mind  of  George  Whitehead;  and  chiedj 
through  his  instrumentality  the  king  was  induced  to  dis- 
charge most  of  them,  to  remit  their  fines,  and  release, 
by  his  letters  patent  under  the  great  seal,  the  estates  of 
those  who  had  forfeited  them  under  judgment  of  pre- 
munire.* 

Of  his  proceedings  in  this  cause  George  Whitehead 
has  given  an  account,  too  curious  and  interesting  to  be 
omitted  or  curtailed. 

After  speaking  of  his  deep  concern  for  his  sulFering 
Friends,  he  says : 

that  they  shouhl  he  admitted  to  full  liberty,  and  a  sliare  in  church 
preferiiients,  and  tliat  others  should  not  be  toleraled.  'I'ho  (Quakers 
always  desired  the  tree  exercise  of  conscience  for  all,  they  had 
therelbrc  no  objection  to  tiie  king's  declaration  on  the  ground  of 
its  univtrsality.  Tiie  Pfcsbyterians  also  generally  concluded  that  it 
was  best  to  accept  of  the  liberty  granted  them  by  the  king;  and 
some,  says  Neal,  "  endeavoured  to  prove  that  it  wus  their  duty  to 
do  so  bcciluse  it  was  their  natural  right  ;  which  no  legislative  pow- 
er on  earth  had  a  right  to  deprive  them,  as  long  as  they  remained 
dutiful  subjects." — See  JS'eal,  vol.  2  page,  559.     Set  also  Rajnn. 


^34  MEMOIRS    OF 

I  was  moved  to  write  a  few  lines  to  the  king,  request- 
ing their  liberty,  which  I  intimated  to  our  honest  and 
loving  Friend,  'J'homas  Moor,  who  was  often  willing  to 
move  the  king  in  behalf  of  our  suffering  Friends  for 
their  liberty,  the  king  having  some  respect  to  him  ;  for 
he  had  an  interest  with  the  king  and  some  of  his  coun- 
cil, more  than  many  others  had  ;  and  1  desired  him  to 
present  my  few  lines  to  the  king,  which  he  carefully 
did  ;  and  a  few  days  after,  both  he  and  myself  had  ac- 
cess into  the  king's  presence,  and  renewed  our  request 
which  I  had  made  to  him  in  my  letter ;  whereupon  the 
king  granted  us  liberty  to  be  heard  on  Friday,  as  he 
said,  before  the  council,  being  the  next  council  day  the 
same  week. 

And  then  Thomas  Moor,  myself,  and  our  friend 
Thomas  Green,  attended  at  the  council  chamber  at 
Whitehall,  and  were  all  admitted  before  the  king  and 
a  full  council,  and  being  called  to  go  up  before  the 
king,  who  was  at  the  upper  end  of  the  board,  I  had  a 
fair  opportunity  to  open  the  caseof  our  sulfering  Friends 
as  a  conscientious  people,  chiefly  to  show  the  reason  of 
our  not  swearing  allegiance  to  the  king;  that  it  was  not 
in  any  contempt  or  disrespect,  cither  to  the  king's  per- 
son or  government,  but  singly  as  it  was  a  matter  of  con- 
science to  us,  not  to  swear  at  all,  in  any  case,  and  that 
in  sincere  obedience  to  Christ's  command  and  Gospel 
ministry,  Mat.  v.  and  James  v.  When  1  had  openly  and 
more  fully  pleaded  our  suffering  Friends'  case,  the 
king  gave  this  answer,  viz. '  I'll  pardon  them,'  &,c. 

Whereupon  Thomas  Moor  pleaded  the  innocency  of 
our  Friends,  that  they  needed  no  pardon,  being  innocent, 
&.C.  'Vho  king's  own  warrant  in  a  few  lines  will  dis- 
charge them  ;  for,  where  the  word  of  a  king  is,  (here  is 
power,  said  Thomas  Moor.  The  king  answered  :  "  O, 
Mr.  Moor,  there  arc  persons  as  innocent  as  a  child,  or 
children,  new  born,  that  arc  pardoned,  that  is,  from  the 
penalties  of  the  law;  you  need  not  scruple  a  pardon," 
&,c.  The  lord  keeper  added  :  "  I  have  told  them  that 
they  cannot  be  legally  discl^arged,   but   by  a  pardon 


G.    WHITEHEAD.  285 

under  the  great  seal."  Then  stood  up  Duke  Lauder- 
dale, and  made  his  reflection  upon  what  Thomas  Moor 
said,  in  this  manner  : 

"  May  it  please  your  majesty,  I  wonder  that  these 
men  should  be  no  better  counselled  to  accept  of  your 
gracious  pardon ;  for  if  your  majesty  should  by  your 
own  private  warrant  release  them  out  of  prison,  their 
prosecutors  may  put  them  into  prison  again  the  next 
day;  and  still  their  estates,  forfeited  to  you  upon  pre- 
munire,  remain  confiscate ;  so  that  their  persons  and 
estates  cannot  be  safely  discharged,  without  your  ma- 
jesty's pardon  under  the  great  seal."  With  which  the 
rest  of  the  council  concurred. 

-.  Whereuntol  returned  this  answer,  viz.  "  Jt  is  not 
for  us  to  prescribe,  or  dictate  to  the  king  and  his  coun- 
cil, what  methods  to  take  for  our  Friends'  discharge  ; 
they  know  best  their  own  methods  in  point  of  law  ;  we 
seek  the  end  thereof,  namely,  the  etlectual  discharge  of 
our  suffering  Friends  out  of  prison,  that  they  may  live 
peaceably,  and  quietly  enjoy  their  own,"  &.c. 

Whereupon  they  all  appeared  satisfied,  and  the 
king  said  :  *'  We!!,  I'll  pardon  or  discharge  tliem,"  &.c. 

After  more  discourse  between  the  king  and  us,  i  look- 
ed about  on  the  council,  and  in  tlie  Lord's  power  thus 
declared,  viz.  "  1  do  not  question  but  God  at  times 
inclines  your  hearts  totenderness  towards  the  suflerers, 
especially  tliose  for  conscience'  sake.  O !  therefore 
take  notice  thereof,  and  mind  that  tenderness,  and  that 
wliich  inclines  your  hearts  to  commiserate  their  condi- 
tions, who  have  long  groaned  and  lain  under  heavy 
burdens,  and  sore  oppressions,"  &c. 

"  As  for  our  refusing  the  oath  of  allegiance,  for  w^hich 
many  sulfer  in  prisons,  God  doth  bear  us  witness,  yea, 
God  doth  bear  the  sufiierers  record,  that  it  is  not  from 
a  disaffection  to  the  king  or  government,  but  singly 
for  conscience'  sake,  because  it  is  an  oath;"  concluding 
with  these  words,  "  '  This  is  the  fast  the  Lord  requires, 
to  undo  the  heavy  burdens,  and  to  let  the  oppressed  go 


236  MEMOIBS    OF 

free.'  "     Being  near  the  time  of  an  appointed  fast  as  I 
remennber. 

Pursuant  to  the  king's  promise  of  pardon,  &c.  the 
following  order  was  given. 

"  At  the  Court  at  Whitehall,  the  8th  of  May, 
1672. 

"  Whereas,  his  Majesty  of  his  princely  clemency, 
was  graciously  pleased  to  direct,  that  letters  should  be 
written  from  this  board,  to  the  sheriffs  of  the  respective 
counties  and  cities,  and  counties  and  towns,  and  coun- 
ties within  his  majesty's  kingdom  of  England,  and  do- 
minion of  Wales,  requiring  them  to  return  perfect  lists 
and  calenders  of  the  names,  time,  and  causes  of  com- 
mitment of  all  such  prisoners,  called  Quakers,  as  re- 
main in  their  several  gaols  or  prisons,  which  they  ac- 
cordingly did  ;  and  the  same  were  by  order  of  his  ma- 
jesty in  council,  of  the  third  instant,  delivered  into  the 
hands  of  the  right  honourable  the  lord  keeper  of  the 
great  seal  of  England,  who  having  considered  thereof, 
did  this  day  return  them  again,  together  with  his  opin- 
ion thereupon,  asfolloweth,  viz. 

"The  Returns  that  are  made  touching  the  prisoners, 
in  the  several  gaols,  are  of  several  kinds. 

"  1.  All  such  of  them  as  are  returned  to  be  convict- 
ed, to  be  transported,  or  to  be  convicted  of  a  premu- 
nire,  upon  whose  convictions  1  suppose  judgment  was 
given,  are  not  legally  to  be  discharged,  but  by  his 
maje^ty's  pardon  under  the  great  seal. 

"  2.  All  such  that  are  returned  to  be  in  prison  upon 
writs  of  excommunicato  capiendo,  not  mentioning  the 
cause,  ought  not  to  be  discharged  till  the  cause  ap- 
pears ;  for  if  it  be  for  tithes,  legacies,  defamations,  or 
other  private  interests,  they  ought  not  to  be  discharged 
till  the  parties  be  satistied. 

"  3.  All  those  that  are  returned  in  prison  for  debt,  or 
upon  exchequer  process,  or  of  any  of  the  other  courts 
at  Westminister,  are  not  so  discharged,  till  it  be  known 


G.    WHITEHEAD.  237 

for  what  cause  those  processes  issued,  and  those  dehts 
be  discharged. 

"  4.  Those  that  are  in  prison  for  not  paying  their 
fines,  ought  not  to  be  discharged  without  paying  their 
fines,  or  a  pardon. 

"  All  the  rest  I  conceive  may  be  discharged. 

"  Which  being  this  day  taken  into  consideration,  his 
majesty  was  graciously  pleased  to  declare,  that  he 
would  pardon  all  those  persons  called  Quakers,  now  in 
prison  for  any  offence  committed  relating  only  to  his 
majesty,  and  not  to  the  prejudice  of  any  other  person. 
And  it  was  thereupon  ordered  by  his  majesty  in 
council,  that  a  list  of  the  names  of  the  Quakers  in  the 
several  prisons,  together  with  the  causes  of  their  com- 
mitment, be,  and  is  herewith  sent  to  his  majesty's  attor- 
ney general,  who  is  required  and  authorized  to  prepare 
a  bill  for  his  majesty's  royal  signature,  containing  a 
pardon  to  pass  the  great  seal  of  England,  for  all  such 
to  whom  his  majesty  may  legally  grant  the  same.  And 
in  case  of  any  difficulty,  that  he  attend  the  lord  keep- 
er, and  receive  his  directions  therein. 

"  Edward  Walker." 

Here  follows  a  copy  also  of  the  king's  warrant  to  the 
attorney  general. 

"  Our  will  and  pleasure  is,  that  you  prepare  a  bill 
fit  for  the  royal  signature,  and  to  pass  our  great  seal  of 
England,  containing  our  gracious  pardon  unto  &c.  [the 
place  of  the  prisoners  names.]  Of  all  offencss,  contempts 
and  misdemeanors  by  them,  or  an^'  of  them  committed 
before  the  twenty-first  day  of  Juiy,  1G72,  against  the 
several  statutes  made  in  the  first,  twenty-third,  and 
thirty-fifth  years  of  the  reign  of  queen  Elizabeth  ;  in  the 
third  year  of  the  reign  of  our  late  royal  grandfather, 
king  James;  and  in  the  sixteenth  year  of  our  reign — in 
not  coming  to  church  and  hearing  Divine  service;  in 
refusing  to  take  the  oath  of  allegiance  and  supremacy, 
and  frequenting  or  being  present  at  seditious  conventi- 


238  MKMOtKS  OF 

cles ;  and  of  all  premunires,  judgments,  convictions, 
sentences  of  excommunication, and  transportation  there- 
upon :  and  of  all  fines,  amercements,  pains,  penalties, 
and  forfeitures  whatsoever,  thereby  incurred,  with  res- 
titution of  lands  and  goods,  and  such  other  clauses,  and 
nonobstantes,  as  may  render  this  our  pardon  most  eflTec- 
tual ;  for  which  this  shall  be  your  warrant. 

"  Given  at  Court  at  Whitehall,  the day  of  June, 

in  the  twenty-fourth  year  of  our  reign. 

"  To  our  Attorney  General." 

After  we  had  taken  out  the  foregoing  order  and 
warrant,  our  Friend  Thomas  Moor  and  I  delivered  the 
same  to  the  king's  attorney  general.  Sir  Heneage  Finch. 
Thomas  again  scrupling  the  word  pardon  to  him,  as  he 
had  before  to  the  king,  &c.  he  took  up  Thomas  some- 
what short,  telling  him:  "  Mr,  Moor,  if  youMl  not  ac- 
cept of  his  majesty's  pardon,  I'll  tell  him  you'll  not 
accept  thereof."  Then  to  pacify  him,  I  told  him,  that 
it  was  not  our  business  to  question,  but  accept  what  the 
king  had  granted  for  relief  of  our  suffering  Friends,  that 
they  might  be  released  and  discharged  from  their  im- 
prisonments and  sufferings,  &c.  Whereupon  he  seem- 
ed satisfied. 

And  further  to  inform  and  satisfy  Thomas  Moor  in 
the  case,  after  we  came  out  from  the  attorney  general, 
I  got  him  to  return  again  with  me  to  his  clerk,  one 
Sanders,  an  old  man,  who  engrossed  the  king's  letters 
patent,  or  pardons,  that  he  might  inform  Thomas  Moor 
of  the  nature  and  manner  thereof,  which  he  very  fairly 
did  ;  whereupon  Thomas  said,  now  it  begins  to  have 
some  shape,  &c.  And  then  was  better  satisfied,  as  bet- 
ter understanding  the  nature  of  that  instrument  than 
before. 

His  scruples  or  objections  against  the  word  pardon, 
or  its  being  necessary  to  our  suffering  Friends,  were 
upon  these  tender  points. 

1.  That  they  being  innocent  persons,  needed  no  par- 
don, as  criminals  do. 


G.    WniTEIlEAU.  239 

2.  That  their  testimony  for  Christ  Jesus  allowed  of 
no  pardon ;  neither  indeed  can  we  allow,  or  accept  of 
any  man's  pardon  in  that  case,  singly  considered ;  we 
cannot  give  away  the  cause  of  Christ,  or  our  sincere 
obedience  to  llini,  as  any  offence  or  crime,  needing  any 
pardon  or  forgiveness  from  men ;  nor  does  Christ  re- 
quire us  to  ask  it  of  Him,  in  that  wherein  we  truly 
obey  Uim,  but  accepts  and  approves  of  us  therein. 

But  ihen  on  the  other  hand,  we  must  reasonably 
allow  of  this  distinction ;  that  wherein  we,  or  our 
Friends  were  judged  or  condemned  by  human  laws,  and 
the  ministers  thereof,  unto  imprisonments,  fines,  for- 
feitures, premunircs,  confiscation  of  estates  to  the  king, 
and  power  given  him  to  banish  us,  and  thereby  we 
made  debtors  to  him.  The  king  has  power  to  remit, 
pardon,  or  forgive  what  the  law  has  made  a  debt  to 
him,  as  well  as  any  creditor  has  power  to  forgive  a 
debt  owing  him  ;  and  so  to  pardon  and  release  his  deb- 
tor out  of  prison. 

The  case  is  plain,  and  the  distinction  evident. 

Neither  pope,  priest,  nor  prince  can  acquit  or  par- 
don men  in  the  sight  of  God,  for  offences  against  Him ; 
but  the  king  may  forgive  debts  owing  by  law  to  him, 
and  release  and  re-convey  his  subjects'  estates  by  law 
forfeit  to  him,  or  else  he  has  less  power  than  any  of 
them.  An  earthly  king  cannot  pardon  a  guilty  con- 
science before  God;  but  he  can  forgive  debts  owing 
him,  and  release  estates  forfeit  to  him,  as  well  as  per- 
sons who  are  within  his  power  to  release :  good  con- 
science and  well-doing  need  no  pardon,  but  deserve 
praise. 

Besides  in  this  case  of  our  premunired  Friends,  if 
the  king  had  not  reconveyed  their  estates,  as  he  did,  by 
his  letters  patents,  under  the  great  seal  of  England, 
from  him  and  his  heirs,  to  them  and  their  heirs,  they 
had  remained  forfeit,  and  liable  to  future  claims,  and 
the  proper  owners  to  be  dispossessed  thereof;  and 
therefore  the  report  and  counsel  of  the  lord  keeper. 
Sir  Orlando  Bridgman,  to  the  king,  in  our  PViends' 


240  MEMOIRS    OF 

case,  before  related,  was  both  legal  and  safe  for  their 
discharge ;  being  also  recorded  in  the  several  offices, 
where  patents  and  pardons  are  kept  upon  record,  to 
have  recourse  to  in  cases  of  necessity. 

The  attorney  general   ordered  his    principal  clerk 

Nicolls,  to  draw  up  the  said  bill,  to  contain  the 

king's  letters  patents,  for  a  full  discharge  and  release  of 
our  suffering  Friends  from  their  imprisonments,  sen- 
tence of  banishment,  fines,  forfeitures,  premunire,  &.c. 
which  when  he  had  done,  I  got  Ellis  Hooks,  our  writer, 
to  draw  out  four  or  five  fair  copies  thereof  for  expe- 
dition, to  be  passed  and  entered  and  remain  upon  re- 
cord, in  the  several  offices  which  the  same  was  to  pass 
through  ;  as  the  privy  seal,  the  signet,  the  patent,  and 
hannaper  offices,  &c. 

And  understanding  that,  because  of  the  great  num- 
ber in  the  patent,  great  fees  would  be  required  in  most 
of  those  offices,  except  the  lord  keeper's,  who  had  pro- 
mised to  remit  his  fee,  and  that  he  would  ask  none  of 
us;  which  was  a  kindness,  for  there  being  above  four 
hundred  names  of  the  sufferers,  in  one  and  the  same 
instrument,  to  be  discharged ;  we  understood  they  would 
demand  a  great  fee  for  each  person,  because,  as  wc 
heard,  it  would  cost  one  single  person  twenty  or  thirty 
pounds  charge  in  fees,  to  get  a  patenter  pardon  through 
all  these  offices,  to  pass  under  the  great  seal  of  Eng- 
land :  insomuch  that  we  were  constrained  to  make  fur- 
ther application  to  the  king,  to  remit,  or  abate,  the 
great  fees,  &.c.  Whereupon  the  king  gave  order,  ac- 
cording to  our  request,  as  followeth. 

Locus  SiGILLI. 

His  majesty  is  pleased  to  command,  that  it  be  signi- 
fied as  his  pleasure  to  the  respective  offices  and  sealers, 
where  the  pardon  to  the  Quakers  is  to  pass,  that  the 
pardon  though  comprehending  great  numbers  of  per- 
sons, do  yet  pass  as  one  pardon,  and  pay  but  as  one. 

Arlington. 
At  the  Court  at  Whitehall, 
the  13th  of  Sept.  1G72. 


G.    WHITEHEAD.  241 

Though  we  had  this  warrant  from  tlie  king,  yet  we 
had  trouble  from  sonne  of  the  covetous  clerks,  who  did 
strive  hard  to  exact  upon  us. 

When  the  instrument  for  discharge  of  the  prisoners 
was  granted  to  our  Friends,  there  being  other  dissenters 
besides  Quakers,  in  some  prisons,  as  Baptists,  Presbyte- 
rians, and  Independents,  some  of  their  solicitors,  especi- 
ally one  William  Carter,  seeing  what  way  we  had  made 
with  the  king,  for  our  Friends'  release,  desired  their 
friends  in  prison  might  be  discharged  with  ours,  and 
have  their  names  in  the  same  instrument ;  and  earnestly 
requested  my  advice  or  assistance,  which  I  was  very 
willing  to  give  in  compassion  to  them  ;  and  accordingly, 
I  advised  them  to  petition  the  king,  with  the  names  of 
the  prisoners  in  it,  for  his  warrant,  to  have  them  insert- 
ed in  the  same  patent  with  the  Quakers,  which  accord- 
ingly they  did  petition  for,  and  obtain. 

So  that  there  are  a  few  names  of  other  dissenters, 
who  were  prisoners  in  *  Bedfordshire,  Kent,  and  Wilt- 
shire, as  I  remember,  in  the  same  catalogue  and  instru- 
ment with  our  Friends,  and  released  thereby :  which  I 
was  also  very  glad  of,  that  they  partook  of  the  same 
benefit,  through  our  industry.  Our  being  of  diflferent 
judgments  and  societies,  did  not  abate  my  compassion 
or  charity,  even  towards  those  who  have  been  my 
opposcrs  in  some  cases.  Blessed  be  the  Lord  my  God, 
who  is  the  Father  and  Fountain  of  mercies,  whose  love 
and  mercies  in  Christ  Jesus  to  us,  should  oblige  us  to 
be  merciful  and  kind  one  to  another,  we  being  required 
to  love  mercy,  as  well  as  to  do  justly,  and  to  walk  hum- 
bly with  the  Lord  our  God. 

After  the  king  had  signed  a  copy  of  the  said  instru- 
ment, on  several  skins  of  parchment,  and  we  had  got  it 
engrossed  aforehand  for  expedition,  in  the  patent  office, 
in  chancery  hand,  as  is  usual,  and  had  then  got  it  pass- 


*  Amongst  the  names,  I  was  glad  to  recognize  that  of  the  jusUy 
esteemed  author  of  the  Pilgrim's  Progrcsi,  John  Bunjan. 

Editor. 
VOL.    I.  T 


242  MEMOIRS  OF 

ed  under  the  great  seal  of  England,  there  being  eleven 
skins  of  vellum  in  chancery  hand,  it  was  swelled  to 
that  bigness,  by  reason  the  names  of  above  four  hun- 
dred persons  were  repeated  eleven  times  over  in  it, 
that  Ellis  Hooks,  and  I,  and  some  other  Friends,  were 
hard  put  to  it  and  troubled,  to  find  out  a  way  or  means 
to  have  it  dispensed  to  all  the  prisons  throughout  Eng- 
land and  Wales,  where  our  Friends  were  confined  ;  that 
they  might  be  released  in  due  time,  and  not  be  too  long 
detained  under  confinement,  as  many  had  been  ;  espe- 
cially since  with  great  industry  we  had  obtained  their 
discharge. 

Howbeit  we  could  not  suddenly,  nor  easily  find  out 
an  expedient  sufficient,  nor  extensive  enough  to  release 
all  our  Friends,  prisoners  in  England  and  Wales,  from 
east  to  west,  and  from  south  to  north. 

The  best  expedient  I  could  at  first  pitch  upon,  was, 
to  get  two  duplicates  of  the  original  instrument,  pre- 
pared, and  passed  under  the  great  seal,  as  the  first  was, 
which  I  got  done  very  shortly ;  and  then  sent  messen- 
gers on  purpose  with  them  several  ways,  to  the  sherifl^ 
and  gaolers ;  as  into  Sussex,  Bucks,  Oxford,  Warwick, 
and  Stafford,  where  our  Friends  had  suffered  long  in 
their  gaols,  that  they  might  be  forthwith  discharged  out 
of  prison  ;  which  accordingly  was  done,  when  the  king's 
discharge  under  the  great  seal,  was  shown  to  the  res- 
pective sheriffs  and  officers  concerned,  by  our  Friends, 
the  messengers,  sent  on  purpose  to  see  our  dear  Friends 
released  out  of  their  long  confinements. 

And  although  at  that  time,  I  had  been  in  long  and 
great  labours  and  solicitation,  for  the  liberty  of  our  op- 
pressed Friends  in  prisons,  and  also  thereby  sometimes 
weakened  and  impaired  in  my  health  and  strength  ; 
yet  I  was  willing  to  undertake  a  journey  into  Essex, 
Suffolk,  Norfolk,  and  Hertfordshire  ;  to  see  our  Friends 
released  out  of  the  gaols  in  those  counties,  as  also  in 
Huntingdon  and  Cambridge. 

And  Edward  Man  and  William  Gosnell  of  London, 
were  willing  to  accompany  me  that  journey :  so  having 


C.    WHITEHEAD.  243 

the  original  patent,  under  the  G;reat  seal,  we  all  took 
horse  early,  and  got  to  Chelmsford  that  day,  and  lodg- 
ed at  the  inn  by  the  prison  that  night ;  and  the  next 
day,  the  quarter  sessions  being  to  be  held  in  that  town, 
for  the  county  of  Essex ;  we  went  in  the  morning  to 
several  justices  of  peace,  where  they  were  together  in 
another  inn  of  the  town.  When  we  came  before  them, 
1  gently  told  them  our  errand,  and  what  was  the  intent 
of  our  coming  there;  and  producing  the  king's  letters 
patents,  showed  Ihem  what  names  of  our  Friends  were 
in  it,  who  then  were  prisoners  in  Chelmsford  prison, 
and  how  in  it  they  were  discharged  :  they  seeming 
somewhat  surprised  at  the  sight  of  such  a  great  instru- 
ment, under  the  great  seal  of  England,  and  that  in  fa- 
vour of  so  many  Quakers,  and  some  of  them  having  no 
good-will  to  us,  seemed  somewhat  disgusted  at  our  hats  ; 
however  I  friendly  told  them,  I  hope  they  would  allow 
of  the  discharge,  and  release  our  Friends  out  of  prison. 
So  after  they  had  it  into  court,  they  ordered  our  Friends 
who  were  in  that  prison,  to  be  released. 

So  we  proceeded  forward  in  our  journey  towards  Ed- 
munds-Bury in  SulTolk,  in  order  to  reach  the  quarter 
sessions  there  ;  which  began  the  beginning  of  the  week 
following  the  other  in  Essex  ;  being  about  two  or  three 
days  between  each  session,  us  1  remember.  The  jus- 
tices in  Sutlblk  carried  pretty  fair  towards  us,  and  after 
viewing  the  king's  discharge  in  court,  seemed  allected 
with  it ;  but  it  so  happenetl  that  all  our  Friends'  names 
then  in  that  prison,  who  were  intended  in  the  king's 
grant,  were  not  in  the  said  discharge,  though  their  case 
was  included,  being  the  case  of  many  others  therein. 

We  could  not  suppose  where  the  omission  had  hap- 
pened, unless  in  the  sheritl's  return  of  the  names  and 
cases  of  Quakers  in  prison,  whicli  the  king  ordered. 
The  under-sherirt'took  it  somewhat  hard,  that  we  should 
suspect  him  for  such  omission ;  however  I  pressed  the 
justices  to  release  those  Friends  out  of  prison,  whose 
names  were  omitted,  seeing  their  case  came  under  the 


244  MEMOIRS    OF 

king's  clemency,  and  they  had  right  to  their  liberty  as 
well  as  the  rest,  in  point  of  justice  :  so  their  liberty  was 
obtained,  the  justices  not  opposing  but  allowing  thereof. 

At  that  time  while  we  were  in  Edmunds-Bury,  1  pro- 
videntially and  very  opportunely  met  with  the  under- 
sheriff  for  Huntingdonshire  and  Cambridgeshire,  who 
was  a  very  fair,  civil  man ;  and  showed  him  the  king's 
patent,  and  the  names  of  our  Friends  in  it  who  then 
were  prisoners  in  those  two  counties ;  and  I  desired 
him  to  see  them  delivered  out  of  prison,  in  both  coun- 
ties ;  which  he  was  very  ready  to  undertake,  and  ho- 
nestly performed,  so  far  as  ever  I  could  hear. 

From  Bury  we  travelled  into  Norfolk,  and  to  Nor- 
wich ;  and  there  meeting  with  the  high-sheritf,  got  our 
Friends  released,  who  were  prisoners  and  named  in  the 
king's  patent  to  be  discharged. 

Wc  returned  to  Hertford  in  two  days'  time,  before 
the  quarter  sessions  there  ended  ;  and  Henry  Stout 
producing  the  said  patent,  the  magistrates  released  those 
Friends,  prisoners,  that  were  concerned  there. 

In  two  weeks  time  we  performed  that  journey  and 
service  for  our  suffering  Friends,  in  the  said  counties  of 
Essex,  Suffolk,  Norfolk,  Norwich,  Huntingdon,  Cam- 
bridge, and  Hertford. 

When  we  were  returned  to  London,  we  were  yet 
more  concerned  for  our  suffering  Friends  in  the  more 
remote  counties  and  prisons ;  namely,  those  in  the  nor- 
thern and  western  parts  of  England,  and  also  in  Wales ; 
for  it  was  a  difficult  point  and  tedious  undertaking,  to 
send  messengers  into  all  those  remote  counties  and 
places  where  many  Friends  were  prisoner?,  with  only 
three  such  great  instruments  under  the  great  seal  of 
I^ngland,  as  that  original  which  we  carried  into  Suf- 
folk and  Norfolk,  and  the  two  duplicates,  which  other 
Friends  carried  about  into  the  other  counties  before 
mentioned.  The  patent  we  carried  was  so  big  and 
cumbersome,  in  a  leathern  case  and  tin  box,  and  great 
seal  to  it,  that  Edward   Man   was  so  cumbered  with 


G.    WHITEHEAD.  245 

carrying  it,  hanging  by  his  side,  that  he  was  fain  to  tie 
it  across  the  horse's  back  behind  him. 

Now  being  sensible  of  the  difliculty  and  delay  it  would 
be,  to  dispense  the  same  to  the  several  counties  and 
gaols  throughout  England  and  Wales;  and  what  a  hard 
matter  it  would  be  to  move  the  king  again  for  any  in- 
strument, pursuant  to  his  pardon  already  granted  and 
confirmed,  for  their  more  speedy  deliverance  out  of  pri- 
sons so  remote,  either  by  proclamation  or  warrant  from 
some  of  his  privy  council,  or  the  secretary  of  state,  or 
attorney  general,  or  otherwise.  And  considering  the 
great  number  of  names  and  places  mentioned  in  the 
said  pardon,  we  did  not  then  see  how  we  could  accep- 
tably move  for  such  an  instrun^ent  or  expedient.  Be- 
sides, 1  having  had  so  much  wearisome  toil  and  solicita- 
tion, for  what  we  had  already  obtained  for  Friends'  re- 
leasement ;  the  labour  and  difficulties  considered,  I  was 
minded  to  acquaint  judge  Hale,  who  was  then  chief 
justice,  therewith,  to  see  what  he  would  say  to  it ;  if  he 
could  put  us  in  a  way  to  get  our  Friends  released,  who 
were  in  such  remote  prisons  as  before  mentioned. 

Whereupon  1  went  to  judge  Hale's  house  at  Acton, 
and  our  Friend  Ellis  Hooks  with  me ;  where  we  met 
with  the  judge  at  home,  and  I  intimated  our  case  and 
difficulty  to  him  ;  which  he  fairlj^  heard,  and  viewed 
over  a  copy  of  the  king's  pardon  or  letters  patents,  so 
termed.  How  to  have  the  same  dispensed,  for  the 
speedy  release  of  our  Friends  throughout  England  and 
Wales,  was  our  difliculty  ;  and  so  many  as  the  king  had 
given  his  grant  for  their  discharge  under  the  great  seal, 
we  desired  might  be  delivered  out  of  prison  before  win- 
ter, which  was  then  approaching  ;  and  considering,  as 
1  told  him,  that  many  of  our  Friends  had  lain  long  un- 
der strait  confinements,  it  might  be  their  death  if  they 
were  detained  nuich  longer,  especially  in  the  winter 
season. 

'J'he  judge  appearing  very  serious  and  intent  upon 
the  matter,  told  us,  that  if  they  would  remove  them- 
selves by  halxas  corpus,  and  come  before  him  at  the 


246  MEMOIRS    OF 

king's  bench  :  "  I  will  release  them,"  said  he  ;  that  is, 
upon  the  king's  pardon.  I  then  signified  to  him,  that 
would  be  such  a  hardship  and  hazard  as  we  durst  not 
put  them  upon  ;  because  of  the  remoteness  of  the  coun- 
ties in  the  north,  &c.  And  divers  prisoners'  healths 
were  so  impaired  by  their  long  and  hard  confinements, 
that  it  might  endanger  tlieir  lives  to  remove  them  up 
to  London,  being  one  or  two  hundred  miles  or  more; 
also  many  were  much  disabled  and  made  poor  by  their 
sufTeriiigs  and  imprisonments,  that  the  charge  of  such 
removal  would  be  so  great  that  it  would  be  too  heavy 
for  them. 

The  judge  then  proposed  something  of  an  instrument 
from  the  attorney  general :  though  it  was  not  his  place 
to  give  us  counsel,  as  he  said,  yet  he  appeared  willing 
to  help  our  sudcring  Friends  if  he  could,  by  proposing 
such  expedients  as  he  could  then  think  of.  His  com- 
passion and  good  will  towards  us,  I  could  not  but  take 
notice  of;  and  we  parted  kindly. 

Yet  hitherto  we  were  at  a  loss,  how  to  expedite  our 
poor  suffering  Friends  out  of  the  remote  prisons  :  by  all 
the  advice  given  to  us,  we  could  not  get  all  our  Friends 
actually  delivered  out  of  the  gaols  near  so  soon  as  1  de- 
sired. 

Howbeit,  the  Michaelmas  term,  as  it  is  called,  being 
then  very  near,  and  the  under  sheriffs  coming  out  of  the 
several  remote  counties  to  the  term  ;  I  told  Ellis  Hooks 
we  might  take  the  great  patent,  and  show  to  the  sheriffs 
at  their  inns  and  ofKces,  that  they  might  draw  out  libe- 
rates and  send  to  the  gaols  in  their  respective  counties, 
to  set  our  Friends  at  liberty. 

We  went  to  the  sheriff  of  Yorkshire,  who  was  an  an- 
cient man  ;  and  1  showed  him  the  patent  and  the 
names  of  the  Friends  who  were  prisoners  in  their  coun- 
ty, and  castle  of  York,  and  those  principal  clauses  for 
their  discharge;  which  he  readily  assented  to,  and  bid 
us  give  him  a  copy  thereof,  and  he  would  draw  up  and 
send  a  liberate  to  the  gaoler  for  their  release;  which 
accordingly  we  did,  and  he  performed. 


G.    WHITEHEAD.  247 

I  was  (hereby  farther  informed  how  wc  might  hasten 
and  dispatch  our  Friends'  release,  in  other  remote  coun- 
ties. 

Whereupon  I  drew  up  an  exact  form  of  a  liberate, 
agreeable  to  the  king's  patent,  briefly  comprehending 
the  heads  thereof  which  concerned  the  prisoners'  dis- 
charge, and  gave  it  Ellis  Hooks,  to  transcribe  so  many 
copies  thereof  as  we  needed  for  the  remaining  remote 
counties,  where  our  Friends  were  not  set  at  liberty ; 
with  advice  to  him  to  insert  the  prisoners'  names  in  each 
liberate  respectively  appertaining  to  the  same  county  ; 
as  those  in  Montgomeryshire  prison  in  a  distinct  war- 
rant or  liberate,  for  the  sheriflTof  that  county  ;  and  in 
like  manner  for  the  other  counties  and  prisons  in  Wales, 
where  Friends  were  detained.  And  the  like  particular 
warrants  respectively,  for  the  sheritFs  of  Cornwall,  De- 
von, Dorset,  Somerset,  Cumberland,  Durham,  Lanca- 
shire, and  for  the  rest  of  the  counties,  where  Friends 
were  not  released  out  of  prisons,  I  got  liberates  ready 
prepared  for  the  shcritFs  severally  to  sign  and  seal. 

Ellis  Hooks  and  I  went  to  the  sheritis  severally,  at 
their  inns  and  otfices,  and  showed  them  the  king's  pa- 
tent with  the  liberates,  that  they  might  see  how  agree- 
able they  were  ;  and  they  approved  thereof,  and  readi- 
ly signed  and  sealed  each  liberate ;  being  a  warrant  to 
each  gaoler,  to  set  our  Friends  at  liberty  out  of  gaol  in 
each  county  where  they  had  been  detained,  as  many 
of  them  had  been  for  a  long  time;  so  that  at  last, 
through  much  labour,  care,  and  diligence,  the  difficulty 
we  had  been  under  came  to  be  removed,  that  is,  the 
setting  at  liberty  our  dear  Friends,  by  virtue  of  the 
king's  letters  patent,  who  were  prisoners  in  the  remote 
counties. 

And  1  do  in  deep  humility,  tenderness  of  spirit,  and 
with  a  thankful  heart,  retain  the  remembrance  how 
the  Lord  our  God  helped  and  enabled  me,  to  go  through 
that  great  care  and  diligence,  in  solicitations  for  the 
liberty  of  my  dear  suffering  Friends  and  brethren  ;  and 
though  I  laboured  for  the  same  near  six  months  toge- 


248  MEMOIRS,    &C. 

ther  before  it  was  fully  effected,  the  Lord  gave  me  such 
great  encouragement,  peace,  and  comfort,  in  my  daily 
endeavours  for  them  ;  and  my  love  towards  them  was 
such  as  made  the  same  more  easy  to  me ;  in  all  which 
I  still  have  great  satisfaction  and  peace,  which  remains 
with  me,  in  Christ  Jesus  my  Lord  and  my  God.  I  bless 
his  name  and  power  which  upheld  and  strengthened 
me :  let  Him  have  the  glory,  praise,  and  dominion  for 
ever  !  saith  my  soul. 


END  or  VOLUME  1. 


MEMOIRS 


OP 


GEORGE  WHITEHEAD; 

A  MimSTER  OF  THE  GOSPEL 

IN    THE 

SOCIETY    OF    FRIENDS: 

BEING  THE  SUBSTANCE 

Of  the 

ACCOUNT   OF   HIS   LIFE, 

WRITTEN    BY    HIMSELF, 

And  published  after  his  decease,  in  the  year  1725, 

r 

UNDER  TUE  TITLE  OF 
WITH 

AiN  APPENDIX, 

CONTAINING    A    SELECTION    FROM    HIS    OTHER    WORKS. 


ALSO 
INTRODUCTORY    OBSERVATIONS. 


By  SAMUEL  TUKE. 


IN  TWO  VOLS.— VOL.  11. 


"Ifyo  had  known  what  this  nieaneth,  1  will  Jiave  mercy  and  not 
sacrifice,  ye  would  not  have  condemned  the  guiltless." 


NATHAN  KITE— 64  WALNUT  STREET. 


1832. 


CONTENTS 

OF 

VOLUME  THE  SECOND. 


SECTION  XIII. 
The  parliament  express  to  the  king  their  dissatisfaction  with 
his  declaration.— Persecution  renewed  in  1673. — The  case  of 
Friends  presented  to  the  king  in  1679. —  George  Whitehead  and 
T.  Burr  imprisoned  in  Norwich  in  1680,  and  proceedings  of  the 
quarter  sessions — Their  manly  and  Christian  defence  on  their 
trial.  9 

SECTION  XIV. 

George  Whitehead  and  Thomas  Burr  re-conveyed  to  prison — 
released  at  the  next  quarter  sessions. —  Distinction  between  the  re- 
fusal of  Friends  to  take  the  oath  and  that  of  the  Papists. — Change 
in  the  sentiments  of  parliament  respecting  the  persecution  of  dis- 
se  ting  protestants. — Bills  for  the  relief  of  dissenters. — Character 
of  informers. —  Petition  to  the  king. — A  discourse  with  him. —  G. 
"Whitehead  labours  in  the  ministry  and  shares  in  the  sufferings  of 
his  Friends.  37 

SECTION  XV. 

Sufferings  of  Friends  confined  in  Norwich,  and  endeavours  for 
their  release. — Persecution  very  severe. — G.  Whitehead  suffers  by 
severe  distraints  in  1683 — Sufferings  of  Friends  in  London,  and 
George  Whitehead  imprisoned  in  Newgate,  1684.  65 

SECTION  XVI. 

Suffering  state  of  the  Society  at  the   death  of  Charles  II Re- 

prewentation  of  it  by  an  interview  with  king  James  11.  and  address 
to  him. — List  of  the  sufferers. — Second  interview  with  the  king, 
and  full  representation  of  tiie  Quakers'  case  addressed  to  him  and 
to  the  parliament. — The  king  grants  a  general  warrant  for  the  re- 
lease of  the  prisoners. — Commission  granted  on  George  White- 
head's application  to  the  king  to  inquire  into  the  dishonest  practices 
of  the  informers. — Their  suppression. — One  of  them  in  distress  ap- 
plies to  George  Whitehead,  and  is  relieved  by  him.  82 

SECTION  XVII. 
The  stale  of  Society  in  other  parts  of  the  nation. — Two  meeting 


12  CONTENTS 

houses  seized  and  used  by  the  soldiers. — Application  to  king  James 
respecting  this  and  other  cases  of  suffering.  99 

SECTION  XVIII. 
Proceedings  in  the  reign  of  William  and  Mary — Respecting  the 
act  of  toleration. — The  case  of  Friends  suffering  for  contempts,  &c. 
— The  obtaining  of  an  act  for  the  admission  of  the  solemn  affirma- 
tion of  Friends  instead  of  an  oath.  113 

SECTION  XIX. 
Brief  notice  of  George  Whitehead's  further  services.  142 

Appendix.       .....•••         •         149 

A  Christian  Epistle  to  Friends  in  general.       .         .         .         151 

The  people  called  Quakers  truly  represented,  and  vindicated 
from  some  mistakes  in  the  Lower  House  of  Convocation,  Sec. 
&c.  165 

The  Christian  Doctrine  and  Society  of  the  people  called  Qua- 
kers, &,c.  &c.  187 


MEMOIRS,  &ic. 


SECTION  XIII. 

The  Parliament  express  to  the  king  their  dissatisfaction  with  his 
declaration. — Persecution  renewed  in  1673. — The  case  of  Friends 
presented  to  the  king  in  1679. — George  Whitehead  and  T.  Burr 
imprisoned  in  Norwich  in  1680,  and  proceedings  of  the  quarter 
sessions. — Their  manly  and  Christian  defence  on  their  trial. 

The  liberty  granted  to  tender  consciences  by  king 
Charles  the  Second's  declaration,  1671-2,  held  not  long  ; 
for  the  Parliament  being  not  reconciled  to  the  liberty 
granted  and  allowed  thereby,  look  occasion  against  the 
said  declaration,  and  moved  the  king  to  cancel  and 
make  it  void ;  alleging  that  thereby  he  extended  his 
prerogative  too  far,  or  advanced  it  above  the  law,  by 
suspending  the  execution  of  penal  laws  in  matters  eccle- 
siastical; suggesting  what  dangerous  consequence  it 
might  be  of,  to  have  such  a  precedent  remaining.  But 
they  took  no  care  of  Christ's  prerogative  and  govern- 
ment over  the  consciences  of  his  subjects:  they  must 
be  exposed  to  severe  sufferings,  oppressions,  and  cruel- 
ty, for  conscience'  sake  towards  Him,  and  for  obeying 
his  doctrine,  chiefly  in  refusing  to  swear  at  all,  and  for 
solemnly  meeting  together  in  his  name  and  spiritual 
worship. 

If  the  Parliament  and  all  parties  who  were  displeas- 
ed with  the  king's  said  declaration,  because  not  an  act 
of  Parliament  but  of  prerogative,  had  been  so  generous 
and  noble  as  to  have  allowed  a  general  liberty  to  tender 
consciences,  or  freedom  from  persecution,  they  might 

VOL.    II.  A 


10  MEMOIRS    OF 

easily  have  turned  the  substance  or  effect  of  the  king's 
said  declaration  into  an  act  of  Parliament.  And  no 
doubt  the  king  would  readily  have  signed  and  confirm- 
ed the  same,  seeing  he  had  so  often  not  only  publicly 
promised  liberty  to  tender  consciences,  but  also  in  his 
declaration  from  Breda  positively  and  voluntarily  pro- 
mised, "  That  no  man  shall  be  disquieted  or  called  in 
question,  for  differences  in  opinion  in  matters  of  religion, 
which  do  not  disturb  the  peace  of  the  kingdom ;  and 
that  we  shall  be  ready  to  consent  to  such  an  act  of  Par- 
liament, as  upon  mature  deliberation  shall  be  offered  to 
us  for  the  full  granting  that  indulgence." 

And  moreover,  in  the  king's  declaration  concerning 
ecclesiastical  affiiirs,  dated  October  the  25th,  16G0,  it 
is  again  declared  :  "  In  a  word,  we  do  again  renew  what 
we  have  formerly  said  in  our  declaration  from  Breda, 
for  the  liberty  of  tender  consciences  :  that  no  man  shall 
be  disquieted  or  called  in  question,  for  differences  in 
opinion  in  matters  of  religion,  which  do  not  disturb  the 
peace  of  the  kingdom,  &.c." 

And  in  the  same  declaration  it  is  further  said  :  "  Our 
present  consideration  and  work  is,  to  gratify  the  private 
consciences  of  those  who  are  grieved  with  the  use  of 
ceremonies,  by  indulging  to,  and  dispensing  with,  the 
omitting  these  ceremonies." 

And  in  the  king's  speech  to  both  houses  of  Parlia- 
ment, the  8th  of  July,  IGGl  :  "It  's  to  put  myself  in 
mind  as  well  as  you,  that  I  so  often  (I  think  so  often  as 
I  come  to  you)  mention  to  you  my  declaration  from 
Breda  ;  and  let  me  put  you  in  mind  of  another  declara- 
tion published  by  yourselves  about  the  same  time,  and 
which  I  am  persuaded  made  mine  the  more  effectual. 
An  honest,  generous,  and  Christian  declaration,  signed 
by  the  most  eminent  persons  who  had  been  the  most 
eminent  sufferers ;  in  which  you  renounced  all  former 
animosities,  and  the  memory  of  all  former  unkindnesses. 
And,  my  lords  and  gentlemen,  let  it  be  in  no  man's 
power,  to  charge  me  or  you  with  the  breach  of  our 
words  or  promises,  which  can  never  be  a  good  ingredient 


G.    WHITEnEAD.  11 

to  our  future  security."  And  in  the  chancellor's  speech 
to  both  houses,  May  the  8th :  "  lie  told  you  hut  now, 
(meaning  the  king,)  that  he  valued  himself  much  upon 
keeping  his  word,  upon  performing  all  that  he  pro- 
miseth  to  his  people."* 

Now  upon  the  whole  it  is  observable,  that  when  the 
king  made  and  so  often  repeated  those  promises  of  li- 
berty to  tender  consciences,  there  appeared  no  design  of 
persecution,  or  intention  thereof,  to  violate  his  promises, 
but  the  contrary,  but  how  easy  it  might  have  been,  to 
have  established  that  liberty  by  a  law :  but  too  many  sel- 
fish and  partial  men  were  otherwise  minded  ;  for  before 
the  reign  of  king  Charles  the  Second  was  expired,  some 
of  these  who  were  against  his  declaration  aforesaid, 
would  have  had  an  "  act  of  comprehension,"  to  have  in- 
cluded in  the  Church  of  England  some  parties  of  dis- 
senters, as  Presbyterians  and  such  like,  with  allowances, 
exceptions,  or  limitations,  so  as  not  to  be  made  conform- 
able to  the  said  Church,  in  all  her  articles,  ceremonies, 
and  formalities,  but  to  have  been  dispensed  with,  or  al- 
lowed in  some  things  not  esteemed  essential ;  so  as 
they  might  be  comprehended  or  incorporated  into  one 
with  the  Church  of  England,  exclusive  of  all  other  dis- 
senters, more  conscientious  than  themselves  were  in 
that  point,  since  they  could  not  come  so  near  in  a  con- 
formity or  compliance  as  themselves  ;  and  therefore  the 
most  conscientious  dissenters  of  all  sorts,  excluded  the 
comprehension  and  not  allowed  a  general  liberty  to  ex- 
ercise their  religion  and  conscience,  must  still  be  ex- 
posed to  persecution,  sulFcring,  and  ruin,  under  the 
penal  laws,  if  that  partial  project  and  comprehension 
had  taken  elfect,  by  a  church  made  up  of  presbytery 
and  episcopacy :  Oh  then,  who  should  have  been  sutFer- 

*  George  Whitehead's  loyalty,  and  faith  in  the  king's  word  ap- 
pear to  have  been  incxting-uisliabie. 

It  is  probable  that  his  acquaintance  with  William  Penn,  who  ap- 
pears  to  have  taken  the  most  favourable  view  of  the  king's  conduct 
as  well  as  that  of  the  duke  of  York,  had  considerable  influence  on 
George  Whitehead.  Editor. 


12  MEMOIRS    OF 

ed  to  stand  before  them,  without  conformity  to  such 
elders  and  bishops!  This  partial  project  and  selfish 
design  divers  of  us  were  concerned  in  conscience  to  op- 
pose, argue,  and  testify  against,  to  certain  members  of 
Parliament  concerned  for  such  a  comprehension,  and 
others  also. 

I  remember  I  discoursed  with  divers  of  them  about 
it,  showing  them  wherein  they  gave  away  the  cause  of 
all  the  most  honest  and  conscientious  dissenters,  and 
thereby  greatly  lost  ground,  &c. 

It  was  well  that  project  of  such  a  comprehension  did 
not  take  efTect,  there  was  doubtless  a  Divine  Hand  and 
Providence  in  its  prevention.  And  would  it  not  have 
gone  hard  and  sore  against  the  grain,  with  the  high 
Episcopal  clergy,  if  Presbyterian  ministers,  &c.  had 
partaken  withthcm,  and  been  made  sharers  in  their 
parish  churches  and  livings,  tithes  and  glebe  lands,  ob- 
lations and  obventions,  profits  and  revenues,  wherein 
they  were  formerly  paramount,  and  chiefly  if  not  wholly- 
invested  for  the  space  of  twelve  years  or  above,  until 
the  year  1660,  and  that  the  act  of  uniformity  came  to 
be  in  force ;  and  then  Presbytery  must  give  way  to 
Episcopacy,  and  lay  down  church  revenues  or  else  con- 
form ;  whereupon  many  great  Presbyterian  ministers 
did  conform  with  such  pretences  as  these — they  must 
not  lay  aside  preaching  the  Gospel,  for  want  of  con- 
forming or  dispensing  with  a  few  ceremonies,  which  are 
but  things  indillerent  and  inconsiderable  :  their  great 
livings,  tithes,  oblations,  and  profits,  were  to  them  far 
more  considerable. 

In  the  mean  while,  their  solemn  league  and  covenant 
against  Episcopacy,  &c.  was  not  well  considered  or 
thought  on  by  such  occasional  conformists  ;  yet  some  of 
them  who  were  of  the  more  zealous  presbytery,  having 
been  noted  for  their  zeal  in  respect  to  their  solemn 
league  and  covenant  against  prelacy  or  episcopacy,  and 
pretending  some  greater  reformation,  deserted  those 
counties  and  places  where  they  had  been  so  noted  for 
their  zeal  and  reformation,  &c.  and  removed  into  other 


G.    WHITEHEAD.  13 

counties  and  places,  some  southward  and  some  north, 
where  they  were  not  so  known,  and  could  more  easily 
conform  for  a  church  living,  and  there  put  on  the  sur- 
plice, sign  infants  with  the  sign  of  the  cross,  how  to  the 
high  altar,  conform  to  all  the  ceremonies  of  their  church, 
and  plead  decency  and  good  order  in  them  all ;  which 
before  were  but  superstitious  relics  of  popery,  and  alto- 
gether indecent  in  God's  worship. 

Yet  to  do  the  party  right ;  some  ministers  and  people 
were  more  conscientious  than  to  allow  of  such  an  occa- 
sional conformity  for  lucre's  sake;  and  indeed  many 
could  not  obtain  parish  church  livings  if  they  would, 
where  there  remained  some  old  Episcopal  clergymen 
who  had  claim  to  the  livings,  having  been  formerly 
turned  out  of  the  same;  so  that  those  who  could  not 
conform  on  such  occasions,  nor  obtain  parish  mainte- 
nance, were  fain  to  keep  private,  meetings,  termed  con- 
venticles, as  long  as  they  could  or  durst ;  for  few  of 
them  would  suffer  for  their  religion,  but  rather  privily 
slide  away  or  flee  out  at  back  doors,  rather  than  be 
seized  or  taken  by  the  persecutors ;  though  many  of 
the  Baptists  suffered  imprisonment  at  first.  But  the 
heat  of  the  day,  the  burden  of  suffering  and  persecu- 
tion, chiefly  arose  and  fell  upon  us  the  poor  Quakers; 
for  when  we  were  not  suffered  to  meet  quietly  in  our 
public  meeting-houses,  but  many  of  us  were  violently 
haled  out  to  prison,  and  the  rest  by  force  turned  out 
and  kept  in  the  street ;  there  have  we  stood  and  kept 
our  meetings  without  doors,  both  when  turned  out  and 
when  ofhcers  were  set  on  purpose  to  keep  us  wholly 
out  in  the  streets  ;  where  we  have  often  met  and  stood, 
both  in  winter  and  summer  and  all  weathers,  as  near 
our  own  meeting-houses  as  we  could  get,  and  there 
waited  upon  the  Lord  our  God,  in  testimony  against 
our  injurious,  hard-hearted  persecutors;  insomuch  that 
some  of  the  other  dissenters,  who  durst  not  meet  pub- 
licly, have  thanked  God  that  He  had  enabled  the  Qua- 
kers to  stand  in  the  gap,  and  bear  the  brunt,  and  keep 
the  blow  off  them. 

YOL.  II.  B 


14  3IEM0IRS    OF 

The  king  being  prevailed  upon  in  a  short  tinne,  1 
think  about  two  years,  to  cancel  or  vacate  his  afore- 
said indulgence  to  tender  consciences ;  some  persecu- 
tors began  to  appear  again,  and  a  new  persecution 
arose  in  divers  places,  where  they  picked  up  Friends 
who  bore  public  testimony  to  Truth ;  and  yet  for  some 
time  after,  we  could  travel  quietly  and  visit  our  meet- 
ings in  many  counties.  But  the  old  and  chief  snare 
which  our  great  persecutors  were  ready  to  make  use 
of  against  us,  was  the  oath  of  allegiance,  knowing  that 
we  could  not  swear  in  any  case,  either  for  the  king  or 
for  ourselves ;  though  we  sincerely  practised  and  per- 
formed just  allegiance  toward  him,  as  true  and  faith- 
ful subjects,  giving  Caesar  his  due  and  to  God  his  due, 
the  things  that  are  truly  His ;  namely,  his  w-orship  and 
service  according  to  our  conscientious  persuasion  in 
matters  of  faith  and  religion  ;  rather  laying  down  our 
bodies  as  the  street  to  be  trod  upon,  than  subjecting  our 
souls  for  our  persecutors  to  go  over  them ;  and  when 
they  could  not  go  over  our  souls,  nor  make  them  yield 
and  bow  to  their  corrupt  wills  and  impositions,  then 
would  they  hunt  us  out,  to  apprehend  and  contine  our 
bodies  in  prisons  and  jails. 

In  the  10th  month,  107 3,  our  dear  Friends  and  bre- 
thren, George  Fox  and  Thomas  Lower  were  appre- 
hended ;  being  at  a  Friend's  house  in  Worcestershire, 
and  on  their  journey  towards  their  habitations  in  Lan- 
cashire, but  were  obstructed  and  committed  to  prison 
at  Worcester,  by  warrant  from  one  Henry  Parker, 
justice  of  peace,  and  detained  prisoners  a  considerable 
time.  The  injustice  and  illegality  done  against  them, 
is  farther  related  and  detected  in  George  Fox's  journal. 
After  George  Fox  had  long  remained  prisoner  at 
Worcester,  Thomas  Moor  and  1  went  to  the  king  at 
Hampton  court,  and  requested  his  liberty  out  of  prison. 
Though  the  king  gave  us  little  answer,  yet  after  some 
time  the  Lord  made  way  for  George  Fox's  release. 

This  imprisonment  1  have  mentioned,  that  it  may 
appear  how  early  the  invidious  persecutors  fell  to  work, 


C.    WTIITEIIEAn.  lO 

after  the  king's  declaration  as  aforesaid.  Tlie  perse- 
cutors being  let  loose  again,  the  several  ways  of  perse- 
cution were  renewed  against  us,  the  people  called 
Quakers  ;  as,  for  not  swearing  allegiance,  the  penalty 
was  inriprisonment  and  pretnunire;  for  not  going  to 
parish  church,  so  called,  twenty  pounds  a  month,  or 
two  thirds  of  a  person's  estate,  forfeited  and  seized  on 
exchequer  process,  or  excommunication,  and  writs  de 
excommunkalo  capiendo,  issued  out  to  take  and  impri- 
son the  persons  excommunicated.  And  for  our  inno- 
cent religious  meetings,  great  spoil  was  made  upon  our 
goods ;  they  being  taken  and  torn  away  by  a  company 
of  loose,  idle  informers,  who  cared  not  what  havoc  and 
spoil  they  made  upon  us,  nor  how  much  they  ruined 
honest,  industrious  families;  besides  Ihc  many  hard  and 
tedious  imprisonments  which  many  of  us  underwent, 
both  before  and  after  the  before-mentioned  declaration 
of  indulgence. 

Because  of  these  our  sufferings  on  divers  sorts  of  pro- 
secutions and  processes  before  hinted,  application  was 
often  made  to  the  king,  and  sometimes  to  the  judges 
before  they  went  their  several  circuits,  for  some  redress 
and  relief  from  those  hardships  and  severe  sufferings; 
and  great  endeavours  were  used  at  least,  to  make  the 
king  and  his  ministers  sensible  thereof,  according  to  the 
following  brief  accounts  and  intimations,  viz. 

"  To  the  King's  Justices,  appointed  for  the  several 
circuits  throughout  England. 

"  Many  of  our  Friends,  called  Quakers,  being  con- 
tinued prisoners,  and  many  piosecuted  to  great  spoil 
by  informers,  and  on  qui-tam  writs,  and  by  present- 
ments and  indictments  for  twenty  pounds  per  mensem, 
in  divers  counties  throujihout  England,  oniv  on  the 
account  of  religion  and  teniier  conscience  toward  Al- 
mighty God  ;  we  esteem  it  our  Christian  duty  to  remind 
you  of  their  suflering  condition,  as  we  have  done  from 
time  to  time. 

"  Humbly  entreating  you,  in  the  circuits  to  enquire 


16  MEMOIRS  OP 

into  the  several  causes  of  their  commitments,  and  other 
sufferings  which  they  He  under,  and  to  extend  what 
favour  you  can  to  tlicm  for  their  ease  and  relief.  Pray- 
ing the  Almighty  to  direct  and  preserve  you  ;  we  are, 
"  Your  Christian  friends  and  well-wishers." 

But  we  found  little  redress  from  (he  judges  in  those 
days,  after  divers  applications  to  them  ;  except  when 
the  king  gave  them  some  instructions  thereunto;  for 
which  end  we  sometimes  applied  to  the  king  to  stay 
proceedings  against  our  Friends :  wjiereupon  he  showed 
some  compassion  towards  the  sufferers.  Their  case 
was  presented  to  him  in  manner  following. 

To  THE  King. 

"  The  case  of  the  people  called  Quakers,  who  are 
still  sufferers  by  prosecutions  upon  old  statutes  made 
against  Popish  recusants." 

Presented  to  the  king  by  George  Whitehead,  William 
Mead,  and  John  Osgood,  the  16th  of  the  11th  month, 
1679.  Being  introduced  by  William  Chiffins,  Esq. 
closet  keeper  to  the  king,  as  he  had  given  leave  and 
appointed. 

After  a  brief  introductory  speech  to  the  king,  by 
George  Whitehead,  the  following  case  was  presented 
and  read,  viz. 

"  It  may  be  remembered,  that  about  two  years  last 
past,  our  case  of  sufferings  was  represented  before  the 
king  and  his  privy  council,  that  is,  the  late  and  unwont- 
ed prosecutions  upon  the  statutes  of  (he  iiSrd  and  28th 
of  Queen  Elizabefh,  made  against  Popish  Recusants  ; 
by  colour  whereof,  and  of  the  statute  of  the  3rd  of  king 
James,  two-thirds  of  our  lands,  tenements,  heredita- 
ments, leases,  and  farms,  for  two  or  three  years  then 
last  past,  were  seized  into  the  king's  hands ;  and  pro- 
cess made  out  of  his  exchequer  twice  yearly,  to  collect 


G.     WHITEHEAD. 


the  rents  and  profits  thereof,  for  which  the  bailiffs  sel- 
dom take  less  than  double  ;  their  distresses  frequently- 
amounting  to  more  than  the  yearly  value  of  the  whole 
estates.  The  king  was  then  pleased  to  express  his 
sense  of  the  unreasonableness  of  such  persecution,  say- 
ing, '  It  was  hard  we  should  sulTer  by  laws  made  against 
us,  and  also  by  those  laws  never  made  or  designed 
against  us.'  But  the  Parliament  being  then  sitting,  the 
king  referred  us  to  them,  as  the  more  proper  place  for 
an  etrectual  redress. 

"  In  obedience  whereunto  we  made  our  application 
to  the  House  of  Commons,  who,  by  a  committee,  then 
examined,  by  witnesses  and  records,  the  justness  and 
reasonableness  of  our  complaints,  and  had  true  resent- 
ments thereof;  but  before  they  could  yield  us  any  re- 
lief, they  were  prorogued  and  soon  after  dissolved. 

"  We  also  represented  our  case  to  the  succeeding  Par- 
liament, who  for  our  rehef  were  pleased  to  insert  a  clause 
in  a  bill  then  before  them,  to  distinguish  betwixt  Papists 
and  Protestants,  which  would  have  tended  to  redress 
our  grievance.  But  the  king  also  proroguing  that  Par- 
liament before  the  said  bill  had  past  its  last  customary 
reading  in  the  upi)er  house,  we  are  still  left  under  the 
said  heavy  pressures. 

"Now  although  the  most  effectual  redress  of  these 
present  and  future  prosecutions,  as  the  king  has  direct- 
ed, would  be  by  act  of  parliament;  yet  it  being  so,  that 
the  king  has  power  by  law  to  grant  a  stay  or  cessation 
of  processes,  which  are  made  out  to  collect  the  fines, 
and  profits  levied  upon  our  estates,  that  is,  the  forfei- 
tures being  made  to  the  king  : 

"  We  therefore,  in  true  Christian  humility,  desire, 
that  the  king  will  be  pleased  to  grant  a  present  stay  or 
cessation  of  process ;  until  we  can  have  a  tnore  eflectual 
redress  in  a  parliamentary  way." 

The  king  received  this  case  with  a  list  of  the  sufler- 
ers,  that  is,  of  our  Friends  under  prosecution  ;  and  he 
was  pleased  to  give  this  answer,  viz.  '•  That  it  is  very 

B  2 


18  MEMOIRS    OP 

unreasonable  you  should  thus  sufler  by  laws  that  were 
never  intended  against  you;  I  am  against  persecution 
or  persecuting  any  for  conscience,  and  I  shall  consider 
of  your  case  and  afford  you  what  relief  1  can;  I  will 
advise  with  my  lord  chancellor  and  attorney  general 
about  it,  what  way  I  may  do  it,"  &c.  That  is,  what 
we  requested,  that  he  would  please  to  give  order  to  put 
a  stop  to  process  againsi  us  in  the  exchequer,  &c. 

The  king  farther  told  us  ;  "  that  it  should  be  moved 
the  next  council  day ;  he  would  remember  it,  and 
Shephard  should  give  us  notice."  He  being  a  noted  sort 
of  a  witty  person  and  courtier,  who  much  attended  the 
king  and  was  intimate  with  him. 

We  were  sensible  that  the  king  at  that  time,  as  I 
have  known  him  at  several  others,  was  touched  in  his 
conscience,  and  somewhat  tenderly  allected  with  the 
extremity  and  long  continuance  of  those  great  sufferings 
upon  our  Friends  in  this  and  other  cases ;  but  some 
persons  near  him  were  not  our  friends  and  had  too 
much  influence  upon  him,  whereby  his  good  inclina- 
tions against  persecution,  and  for  liberty  of  conscience, 
as  well  as  his  promises  for  the  same,  were  many  times 
frustrated  ;  and  our  suffering  heavy  pressures  and  trou- 
bles by  persecutions,  were  in  great  measure  continued 
under  his  reign  till  his  days  were  ended. 

And  though  our  solicitations  did  not  at  all  times  take 
the  effect  desired,  yet  I  had  this  secret  encouragement 
to  move  betimes  in  a  good  cause,  and  to  pursue  the  same 
so  far  as  I  could,  believing  that  if  it  was  for  some  time 
delayed  or  rejected,  it  would  in  the  Lord's  time  take 
effect:  and  il^  at  any  time  we  did  not  receive  present 
gain,  that  we  should  not  lose  by  early  movitig  in  and 
following  a  just  cause.  For  many  times  when  we  have 
laboured  under  severe  persecutions  and  confinements, 
&c.  we  have  often  called  for  justice  when  we  could 
not  have  it;  yet  thereby  we  have  cleared  our  con- 
sciences and  had  the  more  inward  peace,  believing 
that  the  just  God  would  appear  for  us  if  men  would  not 
hear  us.     And  our  God  has  often  manifestly  pleaded 


G.    WHITEHEAD.  19 

our  cause,  and  vindicated  our  innocency  in  divers  res- 
pects ;  both  in  men's  consciences  and  in  removing  our 
implacable  persecutors,  when  they  have  tilled  up  their 
measures. 


George  Whitehead  did  not  escape  a  share  in  the  re- 
newed sufferings  of  the  Society,  which  arose  from  the 
cancelling  of  the  king's  order.  In  the  year  1G80  he 
visited  the  city  of  Norwich;  and  meeting  there  unex- 
pectedly with  his  fiiend  Thomas  Burr,  a  fellow  minis- 
ter, they  thought  it  right  to  attend  the  meeting  of  their 
Friends  on  the  tirst  day  of  the  week,  although  they  un- 
derstood it  was  not  unlikely  to  be  disturbed. 

The  meeting  in  the  morning  was  held  peaceably; 
but  in  the  afternoon,  whilst  (Jeorge  Whitehead  was 
preaching  to  the  people,  a  number  of  informers  rushed 
into  the  meeting ;  making  a  great  noise,  and  endeavour- 
ing to  push  their  way  to  George  Whitehead  to  pull  him 
down. 

The  people  liowever  it  seems  did  not  allow  them  to 
pass  ;  and  George  Whit(;head  desired  to  know  whether 
they  had  any  legal  authority  for  their  proceedings. 
They  refused  to  give  him  any  satisfaction  on  this  point; 
but  insinuated  that  he  might  be  a  Jesuit,  and  demand- 
ed the  names  of  the  strangci's.  With  this  demand 
George  Whitehead  immediately  complied,  for  the  sat- 
isfaction of  the  people;  and  after  disturbing  the  meet- 
ing as  much  as  they  could,  the  informers  tliought  pro- 
per to  retire.  Soon,  however,  one  of  the  sherilTs  of  the 
city  made  his  appearance;  and  the  people  making  way 
for  him,  he  required  the  two  Friends  to  follow  him  ;  and 
accompanied  by  the  informers,  conducted  the  unresist- 
ing prisoners  to  gaol. 

In  about  two  hours  they  were  summoned  to  appear 
before  the  recorder ;  and  on  being  brought  into  his  room, 
they  found  the  priest  of  the  parish  along  with  him,  who 
during  the  examination  evinced  no  friendly  spirit  to- 
wards them.  The  recorder  apparently  suspecting  them 
of  being  popish  emissaries,  questioned  them  closely  as 


20  MEMOIRS    OF 

to  whether  they  had  orders  from  Rome ;  to  which  they 
gave  a  plain  denial,  declaring  in  the  most  solemn  man- 
ner their  abhorrence  of  popery. 

He  then  questioned  them  about  their  preaching  that 
day  at  the  meeting,  threatening  to  fine  them  twenty 
pounds  each,  under  the  Conventicle  Act.  Finding  that 
they  would  not  deposit  these  sums,  or  give  security  for 
their  appearance  at  the  ensuing  sessions,  or  take  the 
oath  of  allegiance,  he  committed  them  to  prison. 

From  hence  George  Whitehead  and  Thomas  Burr 
wrote  a  respectful  letter  to  tlie  magistrates  of  the  city, 
before  whom  they  were  to  be  brought,  entreating  their 
moderation  and  that  they  would  not  allow  them  to  be 
deprived  of  a  full  and  fair  hearing.  A  very  minute  ac- 
count of  their  trial,  collected  and  compared  at  the  ses- 
sions by  several  hands,  is  preserved  in  George  White^ 
head's  narrative  ;  from  which  the  following  is  abstract- 
ed. 


At  the  quarter  sessions  for   the  city   and  county  of 
Norwich,  the  2Sth  day  of  April,  so  called,  1G80. 

The  prisoners  were  brought  to  the  bar. 

Their  hats  ordered  to  be  taken  olK 

George  Whitehead  standing  up  to  the  bar,  began  thus, 
viz. 

"  The  law  of  England  requires  two  things  of  the  court, 
with  respect  to  the  prisoners,  viz. 

"  First  the  patience  of  the  court ;  and  secondly,  the 
indillerency  of  the  court  towards  the  prisoners. 

"  That  their  case  may  be  patiently  heard  and  consid- 
ered, without  prejudication,  before  any  judgment  pass 
against  them.  We  have  been  five  weeks  in  prison  ; 
it  is  meet  the  court  should  know  for  what.  Pray  let 
our  mittimus  l)e  produced  and  read  in  court,  that  it  may 
be  understood  what  charge  we  suffer  under." 

Recorder.  "  There  is  no  need  of  your  mittimus  to  be 
read  here ;  I  will  give  account  of  the  cause  ;  I  will  in- 
form the  court.  These  persons  had  been  two  months 
from  home,  and  had  been  up  and  down  the  country  in 


G.    WniTEIIEAD. 


21 


SufTollc,  at  a  burial,  &,c.  And  then  they  came  hither, 
and  here  they  gathered  a  company  together  of  about 
two  hundred,  and  llie  ofFiccrs  went  from  me  to  dissipate 
them,  but  could  not;  whereupon  I  sent  tliesherilF,  and 
he  took  them  away  and  put  them  in  prison.  And  then 
they  were  brought  befoie  me  ;  and  after  conviction 
made,  1  protlcrcd  them  that  if  they  would  pay  their 
fines,  I  would  not  commit  them  to  prison;  but  when 
they  would  not,  I  tendered  the  oath  of  allegiance  to 
them  ;  and  after  they  would  not  take  it,  1  sent  them  to 
gaol ;  as  I  think  I  very  well  might." 

George  IVhile/iead.  "  We  are  Englishmen,  and  have 
a  right  to  travel  in  any  part  of  the  nation,"'  &.c. 

Recorder.  "  There  is  a  law,  and  the  Church  of  Eng- 
land will  never  be  at  quiet  till  some  of  you  be  hanged 
by  that  law,"  (or  till  such  fellows  as  you  are  hanged.) 

George  Whitehead.  "  The  court  may  see  the  frame 
of  the  recorder's  spirit  towards  us,  and  that  he  stands 
not  as  a  person  indifferent  but  a  party  against  us.  Thou 
oughtest  not  to  inveis-h  a<rainsl  the  prisoners,  nor  threat- 
en  us;  that  stands  not  with  the  indiffcrency  of  the 
court ;  nor  yet  thy  determining  or  resolving  aforehand 
against  us,  as  thou  hast  done.  Judges  ought  not  to  de- 
clare their  opinions  aforehand  against  the  prisoner ; 
Hussey,  the  chief  justice,  would  not  do  it  to  the  king, 
in  the  case  of  Humphrey  Stafford  the  arch-traitor,  but 
begged  of  the  king  he  would  not  desire  him  to  declare 
his  opinion  aforehand,  that  the  prisoner  might  come 
judicially  before  him  and  have  justice  done  him.  And 
the  king  accepted  his  request  in  the  case." — Interrupt- 
ed.    See  Cook's  Inst  part  3,  ful.  29. 

Recorder.  "What  king's  reign  was  that  in?" 
George  IVhitehcad.  "In  king  Henry  the  seventh's." 
Recorder.  "  I  perceive  you  have  read,"  (or  are  read.) 
George   fVhilrhead.  "  Seeing  that  none  of  the  court 
have  as  yet  had  any  hand  against  us,  except  the  recor- 
der, we  may  charitably  hope  that  the  court  will  stand 
indifferent  toward  us,  and  let  us  have  a  fair  hearing  be- 
fore any  determination.     The  laws  of  our  nation  re- 


22  MEMOIRS    OF 

quire  a  due  course  of  proceeding,  before  men  be  sen- 
tenced or  condemned  :  so  there  ought  to  be  a  due  hear- 
ing :  as  where  a  process  or  proceeding  consists  of  seve- 
ral parts,  each  part  ought  to  be  enquired  into  and 
answered  in  due  order,  without  confounding  one  thing 
with  another,  or  putting  that  first  which  in  course  is 
last.  Let  us  have  a  fair  hearing  and  trial :  let  us  be 
tried  before  we   be  hanged." 

Recorder.  "  You  were  sent  to  prison  for  refusing  the 
oath  of  allegiance." 

Georore  IVhiteheacl  "  That  is  a  mistake ;  we  were 
sent  to  prison  for  being  at  a  meeting  charged  to  be 
against  the  peace;  which  is  the  premises  in  our  mitti- 
mus to  which  we  are  here  to  answer.  And  therefore, 
that  all  may  know  what  is  laid  to  our  charge,  we  desire 
our  mittimus  may  be  read,  that  so,  if  there  be  any  per- 
sons that  will  undertake  to  prove  the  matter  in  charge, 
let  us  see  them  and  have  liberty  to  answer  the  premises 
contained  in  the  mittimus." 

Recorder.  "  1  will  show  you,  that  when  a  person  is 
committed  to  prison,  he  may  have  several  actions  laid 
upon  him,  if  new  charges  be  brought  against  him,"  &c. 

Prisoner.  "  I  grant  that;  but  that  is  not  our  case; 
for  we  presume  the  recorder  had  no  new  matter  brought 
against  us,  after  he  committed  us  to  prison  ;  and  there- 
fore could  not  lay  any  new  charge  upon  us." 

The  recorder  continued  to  refuse  the  reading  of  the 
mittimus  upon  which  they  were  committed,  and  after 
some  further  altercation  said:  "Put  the  oath  to  them 
that  is  in  the  second  mittimus." 

George  WhUeheud.  "  I  beg  of  this  court  for  God's 
sake  and  the  king's  sake,  to  be  heard  fairly  without 
thus  being  run  upon  :  for  God's  sake,  because  he  is  a 
God  of  justice  and  truth  ;  and  for  the  king's  sake,  be- 
cause the  king's  will  towards  us  as  subjects,  is  what 
the  law  and  justice  wills.  As  his  will  is  the  will  of  the 
law,  he  wills  that  none  of  his  subjects  be  injured  or  un- 
duly prosecuted  contrary  to  law.  I  a  j) peal  to  the  may- 
or as  chief  magistrate  of  this  city,  and  the  rest  of  the 


G.    WHITEHEAD.  23 

justices  here  present,  whether  ye  ought  not  to  see  us 
have  that  right  done  us,  as  to  have  our  mittimus  pro- 
duced and  read  in  court,  that  you  nnay  undcistand  the 
cause  of  our  commitment,  we  were  not  committed  for 
refusing  the  oath.  We  intreat  that  the  court  may 
hear  our  mittimus,  that  we  may  not  have  other 
premises  put  upon  us  than  what  is  contained  therein." 

Recorder.  "  It  shall  not  be  read  ;  there  is  no  need  of 
that:  1  am  present  that  committed  you." 

George  JVhitehcad.  "  1  appeal  to  the  mayor  and  the 
rest  of  the  justices,  who  are  more  indifferent  towards  us, 
for  justice  in  this  case,  viz.  that  we  may  have  our  mit- 
timus read  and  answer  to  the  premises  contained  in  it ; 
and  not  thus  be  run  upon  and  diverted  with  that  which 
is  none  of  the  premises,"  &c. 

Mayor.  "  You  have  appealed  to  me ;  truly  we  arc 
tradesmen  and  no  lawyers  :  we  leave  matters  of  law  to 
the  recorder  ;  he  knows  the  law  and  we  must  acquiesce 
in  his  judgment." 

Thomas  Burr.  "  Thou  understandest  we  ought  to 
have  our  mittimus  read  and  be  heard ;  and  thou  art  the 
chief  magistrate  in  this  court,"  &c. 

George  Whitehead.  "  You  all  have  a  conscience  to- 
wards God,  and  an  equal  and  just  law  therein ;  and 
you  are  under  a  severe  obligation,  to  wit,  your  oath,  to 
see  justice  and  right  done  us.  We  appeal  to  the  mayor 
and  justices  here  for  jnstice,  in  relation  to  our  mitti- 
mus, that  it  may  not  be  thus  evaded.  We  are  at  this 
sessions  to  answer  to  the  premises  or  matter  of  charge 
therein  contained  ;  you  are  concerned  in  conscience  to 
do  us  right  herein.  The  honour  of  this  court  is  also 
concerned,  not  to  see  us  precipitated  nor  run  down 
upon  other  premises.  The  mittimus  was  given  under 
the  hand  and  seal  of  your  recorder,  his  reputation  and 
honour  are  also  concerned,"  &c. 

Recorder.  "  My  honour  concerned  !  wherein  ?" 
George  Whitehead.  "  Thy  reputation  and  honour  are 
concerned,  in  that  thou  art  bound  to  stand  by  our  mit- 


24  MEMOIRS    OP 

timus;  it  is  under  thy  hand   and  seal :  now  thou  goest 
about  to  evade  it,  by  imposing  other  premises  upon  us." 

Recorder.  "  They  sent  their  mittimus  to  the  attorney 
general,  and  sohcited  him  for  advice,  to  know  vvlielher 
they  were  according  to  law  or  not.  And  moved  for  a 
habeas  corpw! ;  but  it  would  not  be  granted." 

George  Whileheud.  "  We  neither  sent  to  the  attorney- 
general,  nor  have  we  yet  moved  for  a  habeas  rorpm.^^ 

Recorder.  "  The  second  mittimus  or  warrant  is  about 
their  refusing  the  oath  of  allegiance;  as  for  the  first,  I 
did  not  make  it  by  book." 

George  Whitehead.  "  It  is  not  a  reasonable  thing  to 
bring  a  prisoner,  and  not  withal  to  signify   the  crimes 
laid  against  him  :  it  was  contrary   to  the  very  laws  of 
the  Romans. — "  Interrupted. 

Recorder.  "  What  tell  vou  us  of  the  law  of  the  Ro- 
mans  ;  we  have  laws  of  our  own  to  act  by,"  &.c. 

George  Whitehead.  "It  is  according  to  the  law  of 
reason  and  nations,  that  the  crimes  and  oiFcnces  should 
be  known,  for  which  prisoners  are  committed  and  de- 
tained in  prison  ;  else  why  should  they  suffer?" 

Recorder.     "  The  court  must  tender  you  the  oath." 

George  Whitehead.  "  Wherefore  then  were  we  com- 
mitted and  detained  in  prison  above  these  five  weeks? 
If  we  be  offenders,  let  us  know  our  offence  for  which 
we  were  committed  ;  if  not,-  do  not  go  about  to  ensnare 
us;  do  not  seek  occasion  against  us.  It  is  enough  to 
punish  us,  if  found  guilty  of  what  is  charged  against  us 
in  our  mittimus.  We  entreat  the  mayor  and  court  to 
do  us  right  in  this  matter,  that  our  mittimus  may  be 
read." 

Mayor  and  some  others.  "  Well,  you  shall  have  it 
read." 

George  Whitehead.  "  Keeper,  where  is  our  mitti- 
mus; produce  it  that  it  may  be  read,  as  the  mayor  and 
other  justices  here  present  have  engaged." 

Recorder.  "  Tender  them  the  oath  ;  put  the  oath 
to  them.  If  you  will  take  it,  that  shall  serve,  &c.  If 
not,  you  incur  a  premunire,"  &.c. 

The  clerk  begins  to  read  the  oath. 


G.    WniTEHEAD.  35 

George  Whitehead.  "  The  oath  is  none  of  the  prenn- 
ises  contained  in  our  mittimus,  which  we  are  to  answer 
to  at  this  sessions,  and  to  be  tried  upon." 

Thomas  Burr.  "Our  all  is  at  stake;  we  perceive 
the  recorder  is  determined  concerning  us :  we  must 
have  liberty  to  speak ;  we  are  freeborn  Englishmen." 

Recorder.  "  We  have  power  here  to  tender  you  the 
oath,  without  taking  notice  of  any  other  cause." 

George  Whitehead.  "  It  is  preposterous  to  run  us 
upon  the  oath  in  the  first  place,  we  being  not  commit- 
ted for  that,  but  for  other  causes." 

Recorder.  "  You  affront  the  court :  is  that  a  fit  word 
to  give  the  court,  to  charge  the  court  with  preposterous 
proceedings." 

George  Whitehead.  "  I  do  not  charge  the  court ;  1 
do  distinguish  between  the  recorder,  in  this  point,  and 
the  court.  He  seeks  to  run  us  upon  that  first,  which 
in  course  is  last,  according  to  his  own  mittimus  and 
warrant;  and  is  not  that  preposterous?  Let  our  mit- 
timus be  read,  and  that  will  show  we  were  not  com- 
mitted upon  the  oath. 

*'  We  ought  to  have  due  process  or  proceeding  in  due 
course  of  law  :  therefore  the  court  should  know  how 
we  were  first  arrested  and  turned  into  gaol  by  the 
sheriff,  without  examination,  mittimus  or  warrant;  and 
how  afterward  had  out  and  committed ;  and  what  the 
mittimus  is ;  what  are  the  premises  contained  in  it, 
that  we  are  to  answer  unto. 

"  The  law  of  England  is  tender  of  men's  liberties, 
properties,  estates,  and  lives,  all  which  are  concerned 
in  our  imprisonment ;  lex  anglict  is  said  to  be  lex  mise- 
ricordice,  that  is,  the  law  of  England  is  a  law  of  mercy  ; 
one  reason  whereof  is,  that  the  innocent  may  not  be 
worn  or  wasted  through  long  imprisonment,  but  be 
brought  forth  speedily  to  his  trial,  according  to  magna 
charta,"  &c. 

Recorder.  "  Look  what  an  argument  or  consequence 
you  would  draw  from  hence,  the  law  of  England  is  a 
law  of  mercy  ;  it  is  lex  misericordice,  therefore  thieves 

VOL.    IJ.  c 


26  MEMOIRS  or 

or  malefactors,  &c.  must  not  be  brought  to  condign 
punishment,"  &.c. 

George  Whitehead.  "  This  is  none  of  my  conse- 
quence ;  mine  is  the  same  that  Judge  Coke  doth  in- 
stance, wherein  the  law  of  England  is  lex  misericordm, 
in  that  it  is  tender  of  men's  liberties  and  prescribes  a 
due  course  of  procedure."     Interrupted. 

"  Magna  charta  enjoins,  that  no  freeman  shall  be 
taken  or  imprisoned,  &lc.  but  by  the  law  of  the  land. 
The  law  of  England  requires  due  process  from  the  very 
first  arrest,  taking,  and  imprisoning,  to  the  very  end 
and  execution  of  the  same.  Therefore  the  first  arrest, 
imprisoning,  and  committing  us,  ought  to  be  known  and 
understood,  whether  it  was  in  due  manner  and  course 
of  law,  yea  or  nay." 

The  recorder  was  much  offended  at  the  prisoner, 
for  urging  so  strongly  the  reading  of  their  mittimus, 
and  with  the  justices  for  acquiescing  in  their  desire. 

At  length,  on  George  Whitehead  still  urging  the  pro- 
duction of  this  document,  the  recorder  said  to  him  : 
"  No  doubt  you  have  a  copy ;"  on  which  George 
Whitehead  said  he  had,  and  craved  the  liberty  of  the 
court  to  read  it.  The  justices  having  queried  one  of 
another,  and  being  generally  of  the  mind  that  it_  ought 
to  be  read,  the  mayor  informed  the  recorder,  that  the 
justices  were  agreed  it  should  be  read,  which  was  ac- 
cordingly done,  ll  stated,  that  the  prisoners  had  assem- 
bled together  with  several  other  persons,  in  disturbance  of 
the  public  peace  and  against  the  laios  of  the  realm  /  and 
being  required  to  find  sureties  for  their  respective  appear- 
ance at  the  next  quarter  sessions,  zvhich  they  refused,  the 
keeper  of  the  common  gaol  was  required  to  receive  them, 
and  keep  them  until  they  should  be  discharged  by  due 
order  of  law. 

George  Whitehead  urging  the  charge  contained  in  the 
mittimus,  viz.  (hat  of  being  at  a  meeting  in  disturbance 
of  the  public  peace — the  recorder  insisted  on  what  he 
called  the  other  mittimus,  being  read  also.  George 
Whitehead  pressed  the  court  to  try  them,  in  the  first 


G.  WHITEHEAD. 


27 


instance  at  least,  on  their  original  mittimus,  and  stated, 
that  they  had  exceptions  against  the  second  warrant 
which  ought  to  be  read  if  the  warrant  were.  The 
court  agreed  that  both  should  be  read. 

Recorder.  "  Have  you  any  thing  against  the  oath  of 
allegiance?  Or  do  you  except  against  any  thing  con- 
tained in  it." 

George  Whitehead.  "  We  have  nothing  to  except 
against  the  declaration  of  allegiance  contained  in  it,  as 
to  the  substance  thereof." 

Thomas  Burr.  "  We  show  our  allegiance  by  our 
conversations,  that  is,  by  our  living  peaceably  under 
the  king  and  government." 

Recorder.  "  Do  you  scruple  any  word  or  thing  con- 
tained in  the  oath  1     If  you  do,  tell  us  what  it  is." 

Georve  Whitehead.  "  We  both  own  and  can  sign  the 
declaration  of  allegiance,  in  opposition  to  the  pope  and 
popery  ;  and  to  those  seditious  or  treasonable  prac- 
tices and  positions  abjured  and  renounced  by  that 
oath." 

Recorder.  "  Do  vou  hold  it  unlawful  to  take  an  oath 
in  any  case  ?" 

George  Whitehead.  "  We  are  not  committed  to  pri- 
son to  answer  to  questions  at  sessions ;  but  to  answer 
to  the  premises  contained  in  our  mittimus." 

Recorder.  "  Do  you  not  hold  it  law^ful  to  tell  a  lie, 
that  is  an  officious  lie  1  to  prevent  an  imminent  dan- 
ger," &c. 

George  Whitehead.  "  No,  by  no  means ;  that  is  not 
a  true  protestant  principle,  to  tell  or  maintain  an  offi- 
cious lie,  so  called." 

Recorder.  "Will  you  take  the  oath  ?  &-c.  If  you 
\vill,  hold  up  your  hand  as  a  testimony  that  you  do  take 
the  oath  or  swear,  that  shall  serve,"  &c. 

George  Whitehead.  "  Wc  have  a  protestation  or  de- 
claration against  the  pope  and  popery,  which  was 
delivered  to  the  committee  of  parliament,  and  thereby 
judged  sufficient  to  distinguish  us  from  popish  recu- 
sants :  we  crave  leave  of  the  court  to  read  it." 


28  MEMOIRS    OP 

Recorder.  "  What  difference  is  there  between  a 
protestation  and  an  oath  ?" 

George  ff'hilehead.  "  It  may  be  a  protestation  or 
testimony  against  popery,  yet  not  an  oath.  I  pray  you 
let  us  read  our  protestation,  that  we  may  not  lie  under 
suspicion  without  cause." 

Court.     "  You  may.     Read  it." 

The  protestation  read  in  court,  which  followeth. 

"  A  protestation  or  declaration,  to  distinguish  Pro- 
testant dissenters  from  Popish  recusants. 

"  I,  A.  B.  do,  in  the  presence  of  Almighty  God,  so- 
lemnly profess,  and  in  good  conscience  declare,  it  is  my 
real  judgment  that  the  Church  of  Rome  is  not  the  real 
Church  of  Christ ;  nor  the  pope  or  bishop  of  Rome, 
Christ^s  vicar :  and  his  or  their  doctrines,  of  deposing 
heretical  princes  and  of  absolving  their  subjects  of  their 
obedience  ;  of  purgatory  and  prayers  for  the  dead ;  of 
indulgences  and  worshipping  of  images ;  of  adoring 
and  praying  to  the  Virgin  Mary  and  other  saints,  de- 
ceased ;  and  of  transubstantiation,  or  changing  the 
elements  of  bread  and  wine  into  the  body  and  blood  of 
Christ,  at  or  after  the  consecration  thereof  by  any  per- 
son whatsoever;  are  false,  erroneous,  and  contrary  to 
the-  Truth  of  God  declared  in  the  Holy  Scriptures  :  and 
therefore,  that  the  communion  of  the  said  Church  is 
superstitious  and  idolatrous. 

"  And  I  do  likewise  sincerely  testify  and  declare, 
that  I  do  from  the  bottom  of  my  heart,  detest  and  ab- 
hor all  plots  and  conspiracies  that  are,  or  may  be  con- 
trived against  the  king,  or  parliament,  or  people,  of  this 
realm,  or  the  true  Protestant  religion  therein  professed. 
And  I  do  hereby  faithfully  promise,  by  God's  help,  to 
live  a  peaceable  and  sober  life,  as  becometh  a  good 
Christian  and  protestant  to  do. 

"  And  all  this  I  do  acknowledge,  intend,  declare,  and 
subscribe,  without  any  equivocation  or  mental  reserva- 
tion ;  according  to  the  true  plainness,  simplicity,  and 
usual  significations  of  the  words. 

"  Witness  my  hand." 


G.    M'HITEIIEAD. 


29 


George  Whilehead.  "  This  was  accepted  by  a  great 
committee  and  entered  in  the  journal  of  parUament,  in 
order  to  distinguish  us  from  popish  recusants,"  &c. 

Recorder.  "  We  have  not  a  law  to  accept  it :  it  is 
not  enacted  or  made  a  law.  We  must  proceed  accord- 
ing to  law,  &c.  You  seem  to  declare  for  the  true  Pro- 
testant religion,  &.c.  when  you  dissent  from  the  Church 
of  England ;  I  am  not  in  that  point  satisfied  with  your 
declaration." 

George  IVhitehtad.  "  We  have  no  mental  reserva- 
tions in  the  case.  We  are  willing  and  ready  to  sign 
this  declaration.  Is  there  any  evidence  against  us,  to 
prove  the  premises  contained  in  our  mittimus  ?  Where 
are  our  accusers?" 

Recorder,     "  The  premises :  what  are  they  ?" 

George.  Whilehead.  "  The  being  at  an  unlawful 
assembly  in  disturbance  of  the  public  peace,  as  is  pre- 
tended against  us ;  let  us  be  tried,  and  either  condemn- 
ed or  acquitted  hereupon." 

Recorder.  "  I  was  more  favourable  to  you  than  you 
deserved  ;  for  I  could  have  drawn  an  indictment  against 
you  at  common  law,  and  brought  you  to  a  trial  upon 
it ;  which  bein^  found  a2:ainst  vou  1  must  have  fined 
you. 

"  We  who  are  in  commission  for  the  peace,  arc  lex 
lorjiietis,  nnd  to  give  the  true  meaning  of  the  law.  We 
are  not  to  make  laws,  but  to  interpret  the  law.  We 
are  to  punish  or  amerce  offenders,  secundum  qualita- 
tem  and  secundum  quantitatum  delicti,"  (fcc. 

George  JVhitehrad.  "We  are  not  at  present  about 
to  justify  ourselves  as  to  matter  of  fact ;  wo  are  wil- 
ling to  hear  evidence  what  any  can  prove  against  us, 
in  relation  to  our  assemblies.  Let  us  have  due  pro- 
cess." 

Recorder.  "If  the  court  will  agree  to  it,  we  will 
adjourn.  And  I  will  provide  an  indictment,  and  give 
order  that  the  witnesses  shall  be  here,  and  will  give  it 
to  the  grand  inquest ;  and  if  they  find  it  against  you, 

c  2 


30  MEMOIRS    OF 

you  shall  be  fined  forty  pounds,  and  imprisonment  till 
paid,"  &c. 

Prisoner.  "  It  seems  the  witnesses  are  yet  to  pro- 
cure. Is  there  any  here  that  can  give  evidence  against 
our  meeting,  of  the  breach  of  the  peace,"  &.c. 

Recorder.  "  That  is  a  lie ;  I  did  not  say  1  would 
procure  witnesses  :  that  is  scandalous." 

Thomas  Burr.  "  We  desire  that  no  advantage  may 
be  taken  against  us  for  a  word.  You  ought  not  to  take 
advantage,"  &c. 

George  Whitehead.  "  I  intended  no  offence  in  the 
word  procure ;  1  intended  it  not  in  the  worst  sense,  that 
is,  as  by  way  of  subornation ;  for  1  intended  no  other 
than  according  to  the  recorder's  own  words,  that  wit- 
nesses should  be  here,  or  the  like,  which  doubtless 
many  present  heard." 

Recorder.  "  You  shall  have  the  oath  put  to  you, 
and  I  will  tell  you  what  danger  you  incur:  if  you  re- 
fuse to  take  it,  you  arc  to  be  put  out  of  the  king's  pro- 
tection, your  lands  and  estates  forfeit  to  the  king,  and 
your  bodies  imprisoned  during  the  king's  pleasure,"  &c. 

George  Whitehead.  "  We  understand  what  a  pre- 
munire  means,  according  to  the  statute  of  premunire, 
made  in  the  sixteenth  year  of  king  Richard  the  Second ; 
though  there  is  no  equity  that  should  be  brought  upon 
us,  whilst  we  practise  our  allegiance.  Suppose  we  can- 
not for  conscience'  sake  swear,  it  is  but  hard  measure 
to  bring  us  under  the  penalty  of  premunire  for  that 
cause  only.  What  equity  can  there  be  in  it  ?  seeing 
we  utterly  deny  the  pope  and  popery,  &c. ;  to  which 
we  may  justly  add,  and  abhor  those  treasonable  prac- 
tices and  positions,  which  are  abjured  by  that  oath. 
Can  it  be  equal  or  just  to  run  us  to  a  premunire,  to  for- 
feit our  estates,  liberties,  &c.  only  for  want  of  swear- 
ing? How  can  that  be  either  secundum  qualitatum, 
or  secundum  quantitatum  delicti  ?" 

Recorder.  "  You  talk  of  conscience.  Friend,  friend, 
let  me  ask  you  one  question  :  pray  what  is  conscience  V' 

George  Whitehead.     "  It  is  that  knowledge  that  God 


G.    WHITEnEAD.  31 

hath  placed  in  man  ;  it  is  a  knowing  together  between 
God  and  our  own  souls,  by  virtue  of  the  law  of  God  in 
man  ;  whereby  he  knows  what  is  good  and  wliat  is  evil, 
and  whereby  he  is  taught  to  embrace  the  good  and 
shun  the  evil.  It  is  called,  the  law  of  truth,  the  law  of 
equity,  the  law  of  reason,  &c.  against  which  law,  says 
the  law  book  '  Doctor  and  Student,'  no  law  nor  custom 
ought  to  be  brought,  but  is  void." 

Recorder.  "Although  I  asked  you  a  question,  I  did 
not  bid  you  preach  upon  it.  But  conscience  may  be 
seared;  as  when  men  will  not  be  reclaimed,  but  have 
their  own  wills  be  they  never  so  contrary." 

George  Whitehead.  "  It  is  true;  some  men's  con- 
sciences become  hardened  and  seared  througrh  sinnins:, 
and  for  want  of  being  exercised  by  that  law  of  God  in 
them.  Yet  there  is  a  universal  law  of  truth  in  man- 
kind, whereby  even  the  wicked  and  those  of  seared  and 
hardened  consciences,  shall  finally  be  convicted  and 
awakened  in  torment,"  &-c. 

Recorder.  "  You  nmst  have  the  oath  put  to  you  ; 
the  court  must  tender  you  the  oath  of  allegiance ;  will 
you  take  it  ?" 

George  Whitehead.  "We  lie  under  a  charge  in  our 
mittimus ;  let  us  be  discharged  of  that  first :  that  con- 
tains the  premises  which  we  are  to  answer  to;  let  us 
not  be  hood-winked.  Are  we  discharired  of  the  two 
warrants  that  are  against  us,  yea  or  no  \  The  rest  of 
the  court  ought  to  know,  that  one  thing  may  not  con- 
found another." 

Recorder.  "  You  talk  law  as  you  talk  Gospel;  here 
you  talk  a  little,  and  there  you  talk  a  little.  It  is  pity 
you  have  the  benefit  of  the  lavv  ;  you  put  yourselves 
from  the  protection  of  the  lavv." 

George  Whitehead.  "  The  recorder  is  a  party  against 
us;  he  is  our  accuser,  prosecutor,  and  judge.  He  in- 
veighs against  us;  he  is  determined  against  us;  he  has 
told  his  resolution  aforehnnd,"  etc. 

One  justice,     "You  oiler  contempt  against  the  king 


32  MEMOIRS  OF 

in  what  you  say  against  his  minister;  the  recorder  is 
his  minister." 

George  Whitehead.  "  No  such  matter;  I  only  oppose 
an  undue  and  irregular  procedure,  which  is  not  the 
king's  will,"  &.c. 

Recorder.  "  Your  words  tend  to  stir  up  the  people 
here  to  sedition." 

George  Whitehead.  "  We  have  no  such  design  ;  we 
only  plead  our  own  rights  as  Englishmen :  the  losers 
must  have  leave  to  speak  ;  our  liberties,  and  estates, 
and  families  are  concerned  ;  our  wives  and  families  suf- 
fer by  our  restraint,"  &c. 

Recorder.  "  Clerk,  tender  him  the  oath  ;  offer  him 
the  book." 

Clerk  reads:  "  1  George  Whitehead  do  truly  and  sin- 
cerely acknowledge,  profess,  testify,  and  declare  in  my 
conscience,"  &c. 

George  Whitehead.  '•  Forbear  ;  we  have  matter  of 
plea  which  ought  to  be  heard  tirst,"  &c. 

Note.  Here  a  great  noise  was  made  by  some  pre- 
sent. 

Crier.     "  O  yes  !  silence  in  the  court,"  &c. 

George  Whitehead.  "  We  beg  of  the  court  that  we 
may  not  be  thus  run  upon,  but  duly  heard  upon  the 
process  we  suffer  under." 

Recorder.  "■  Will  you  take  the  oath  ?  answer  and 
then  you  shall  know  the  pleasure  of  the  court." 

George  Whitehead.  "We  ought. to  be  at  some  cer- 
tainty, whether  we  are  discharged  of  the  premises  laid 
against  us  in  the  two  warrants.  The  recorder  was 
even  now  for  indicting  us  at  common  law :  now  he  is 
all  in  haste  to  put  the  oath  upon  us.  Thus  he  appears 
inconsistent  with  himself:  he  is  not  now  lex  loquens  to 
be  sure  ;  for  the  law  speaking  doth  not  contradict  itself 
He  is  not  the  mouth  of  the  law,  in  running  thus  undu- 
ly and  abruptly  upon  us  with  the  oath,  to  evade  the 
premises  which  wc  were  to  answer  (o.  Are  we  dis- 
charcied  of  the  two  warrants,  vea  or  no  ?  let  us  have  the 
plain  advice  or  sense  of  the  court." 


G.    WHITEHEAD. 


33 


Recorder.  "  It  may  be  you  may  suppose  you  be 
discharged ;  what  is  the  consequence  you  will  infer 
thence." 

George  Whitehead.  "  We  desire  a  plain  answer ;  we 
are  not  to  be  answered  by  supposition,  nor  thence  to 
draw  consequences  now :  we  are  not  called  hither  to 
dispute  upon  a  hypothetical  argument ;  we  expect  a 
positive  plain  answer,  and  the  sense  of  the  court  con- 
cerning our  mittimus  and  warrant:  are  we  discharged 
of  them  or  not  ?' 

Some  of  the  court  to  the  recorder :  "  Let  them  be  dis- 
charged of  them." 

Some  of  the  court :  "  You  are  discharged  of  them." 

George  Whitehead.  "  Does  the  recorder  say  so? 
Does  he  assent  to  it '?  Let  proclamation  be  made  of  it 
then,  that  we  may  be  set  at  liberty  in  the  same  capa- 
city we  were  in  before  we  were  first  arrested." 

Recorder.  "  No,  no  ;  seeing  you  will  take  your  way  I 
will  take  my  way ;  you  sball  have  the  oath  first  and 
then  your  discharge.  Will  you  take  the  oath,  and  then 
you  shall  be  discharged  1  What  say  you  to  it  ?  Read 
the  oath,"  &c. 

Thomas  Burr.  «  It  is  a  force  put  upon  us  ;  it  is  very 
hard  dealing  we  may  not  be  duly  heard,"  &c. 

George  Whitehead.  "  Are  the  rest  of  the  justices  of 
the  same  mind,  that  we  should  be  thus  run  upon?  We 
hope  you  are  not  all  of  the  same  mind  with  the  recor- 
der in  this  proceeding.  He  is  engaged  against  us ;  he 
is  resolved  to  make  something  of  it,  and  to  make  us  ex- 
emplary in  suffering." 

Recorder.  "  Stop  his  mouth  ;  take  him  away.  They 
had  not  only  need  to  have  their  hats  pulled  olF,  but  their 
mouths  stopt  also." 

George  Whitehead.  "  Pray  hear  us ;  we  have  more 
to  offer  as  about  this  tender  of  the  oath,  to  show  how 
undue  it  is,  if  you  will  but  suffer  the  law  to  be  read 
which  we  desire.  But  we  ought  first  to  have  had  pro- 
clamation made  of  our  discharge  from  the  two  war- 
rants." 


34  mi:moirs  of 

Recorder.  "  If  we  should  make  proclamation  and  let 
you  go,  we  should  be  laughed  at :  no,  no  ;  I  see  you  lay 
upon  the  catch,  we  will  not  discharge  you.  Now  we  have 
you  here  we  shall  not  let  you  go,  for  to  send  a  warrant 
after  you  to  fetch  you  again.  Will  you  take  the  oath 
or  not  ?" ' 

George  Whitehead.  "  Is  this  intended  for  a  first  ten- 
der or  second  1     We  desire  an  answer." 

Recorder.  "We  will  tender  it  you  denovo  ;  it  shall 
be  for  a  first  tender ;  and  if  you  will  not  take  it,  you 
shall  be  committed  till  next  sessions,"  &c. 

Clerk  reads  the  oath. 

Clerk,  "  1,  Thomas  Burr,  do  truly  and  sincerely  ac- 
knowledge, profess,  testify,  and  declare  in  my  con- 
science," &c. 

George  Whitehead.  "  We  appeal  to  the  mayor  and 
the  rest  of  the  justices.  The  recorder  is  a  party  against 
us ;  he  has  determined  against  us  beforehand :  1  will 
prove  that  he  is  no  competent  judge  in  our  case,  if  I 
may  be  heard." — Interruption. — "  Are  we  discharged 
of  the  two  warrants  ?  Pray  let  us  have  fair  and  plain 
dealing  ;  do  not  thus  force  upon  us ;  it  is  unfair  and  un- 
due proceeding.  Let  us  be  discharged  of  the  two  war- 
rants first,  before  we  be  put  upon  an  answer :  we  ought 
not  to  be  put  to  our  answer,  but  upon  due  process,"  &c. 

Some  of  the  court.  "  You  are  discharged  from  those 
two  mittimusses.  Clerk,  read  their  discharge."  The 
clerk  reads  what  the  recorder  hajd  caused  him  to  enter 
into  the  book  to  this  purpose. 

Clerk.  "  George  Whitehead  and  Thomas  Burr  arc 
discharged  of  the  matter  contained  in  their  two  mit- 
timusses. And  the  oath  of  allegiance,  and  the  Testa- 
ment to  swear  in  open  court,  at  this  present  sessions, 
was  severally  tendered  to  them  ;  and  the  said  George 
Whitehead  and  Thomas  Burr,  having  severally  refused 
to  take  tlie  said  oath  of  allegiance,  it  is  therefore  order- 
ed, that  the  said  George  Whitehead  and  Thomas  Burr 
be  committed  to  the  common  gaolof  the  said  city,  there 


G.    WniTEUEAD.  35 

to  remain  without  bail  or  mainprize  until  the  next 
quarter  sessions,"  &c. 

George  Whitehead.  "  The  latter  part  is  not  true  ; 
we  have  not  yet  refused  the  oath ;  wc  were  not  duly 
nor  regularly  brought  upon  that  point  as  to  give  a  posi- 
tive answer,  because  of  the  other  precedent  charges 
which  we  were  to  answer  to.  We  have  yetniatter  of  plea 
about  the  tender  of  the  oath,  dc  novo,  in  court.  We  re- 
quest further  time  to  be  heard  upon  an  adjournment, 
before  we  give  our  positive  answer.  We  desire  to 
know  upon  what  law  or  statute  it  is  tendered?"  No 
answer  was  given  to  this  question. 

Recorder.  "  You  have  stronger  lungs  than  1 ;  1  un- 
derstand you  had  a  feast  last  night,  &-c.  Adjourn  the 
court ;  take  them  away  gaoler." 

George  Whitehead.  "  Pray  let  us  have  more  time  to 
consider  and  speak  to  this  point.  1  intreat  that  1  may 
have  leave  to  read  the  clause  in  the  statute,  that  con- 
cerns the  tender  of  the  oath." 

These  endeavours  of  the  prisoners  to  be  heard,  after 
the  pretended  order  was  entered,  was,  because  the 
prisoners  did  not  believe  that  the  justices,  or  greater 
number  of  them,  did  concur  with  the  recorder's  proceed- 
ing against  them ;  but  that  they  had  more  both  of  mo- 
deration and  justice  in  them,  and  that  he  carried  things 
on  too  much  over  their  heads;  and  all  to  run  down 
and  ensnare  the  prisoners,  to  oppress  them  and  con- 
tinue them  under  suffering. 

Ojfficers_.     "  The  court  adjourned." 

George  Whitehead  held  by  the  bar,  pressing  to  be 
further  heard  after  the  adjournment,  when  the  court 
met  again,  and  for  the  statute  to  be  read  about  the 
oath  ;  neither  whereof  would  be  granted  the  prisoners, 
but  two  of  the  keepers  pulled  the  prisoners  away. 

Prisoner.  "  Take  notice  that  we  have  not  vet  re- 
fused  the  oath,  being  not  duly  nor  regularly  brought 
upon  that  point;  but  we  have  owned  the  declaration  of 
allegiance  contained  in  it,  and  do  still  freely  assent  to 


36  MEMOIRS,  <k;c. 

it,  in  opposition  to  and  abhorrence  of  all  those  treason- 
able practices,  positions,  and  principles  abjured  and 
renounced  by  that  oath  ;  though  we  are  conscientiously 
afraid  to  swear  it,  only  with  respect  to  Christ's  prohibi- 
tion in  the  case  of  swearing." 


(    37   ) 


SECTION  XIV. 

George  Whitehead  and  Thomas  Burr  re-conveyed  to  prison — re- 
leased at  the  next  quarter  sessions — Distinction  between  the  re- 
fusal of  Friends  to  take  the  oath  and  that  of  the  Papists. — Change 
in  the  sentiments  of  parliament  respecting  the  persecution  of  dis- 
se-iting  protestants. — Bills  for  the  relief  of  dissenters. — Charac- 
ter of  informers. — Petition  to  the  king — A  discourse  with  him. 
— G.  Whitehead  labours  in  the  ministry  and  shares  in  the  suf- 
ferings of  his  Friends. 

After  this  manly  and  Christian  defence  of  their  civil 
and  religious  rights,  being  re-conveyed  to  prison,  George 
Whitehead  and  his  companions  addressed  a  letter  to 
the  mayor  and  aldermen  of  the  city,  acknowledging  the 
impartiality  and  moderation  with  which  they  had  been 
treated  on  their  trial ;  but  at  the  same  time  respect- 
fully urging  the  illegality  of  the  proceeding,  in  the  ten- 
dering of  the  oath  to  them,  de  novo  ;  and  requesting  a 
hearing  in  their  council  chamber,  or  to  be  brought  be- 
fore the  adjournment  of  the  court.  Notwithstanding 
the  favourable  disposition  of  the  magistrates,  and  that 
the  recorder,  five  days  after  their  trial,  had  been  voted 
out  of  place  by  the  common  council,  their  discharge  was 
not  effected  until  the  time  of  the  next  regular  sessions; 
when  no  charge  being  exhibited  against  them,  they 
were  ordered  to  be  released. 

The  earl  of  Yarmouth  and  several  other  persons  of 
eminence  interfered  in  their  favour ;  from  which,  as 
well  as  from  the  conduct  of  the  magistrates,  it  may  be 
inferred,  that  some  change  in  public  opinion,  probably 
both  as  regarded  (he  character  of  the  Quakers  and  the 
nature  of  persecution,  had  taken  place. 

It  must  also  be  admitted,  that  some  change  had  taken 
place  in  the  manner  of  George  Whitehead's  treating 
those  who  differed  from  him ;  and  that,  without  any  di- 
minution of  the  sincerity  and  piety  which  marked  the 

VOL.    II.  D 


38  MEMOIRS    OF 

early  period  of  his  life,  there  was  an  evident  increase 
of  tFiat  conciliatory  spirit,  which  is  the  usual  accom- 
paniment of  mature  wisdom.  He  has  left  very  copious 
remarks  on  the  proceedings  in  this  case  ;*  and  whilst 
they  have  lost  much  of  their  interest,  by  the  happy 
change  in  the  laws,  as  well  as,  we  trust,  in  the  disposi- 
tion of  the  people  respecting  persecution,  the  following 
passages,  in  which  he  draws  the  distinction  between  the 
case  of  the  Papists  and  the  Quakers  in  regard  to  the 
refusal  of  the  oath  of  allegiance,  may  be  worthy  of  in- 
sertion ;  as  showing  the  views  taken  by  the  Society,  in 
relation  to  the  political  duties  of  its  members. 

Our  case,  says  ho.  vastly  ditrers  from  theirs  for  whom 
the  oath  was  intended  ;  there  is  no  parity  between  our 
case  and  theirs.  We  conscientiously  scruple  or  fear  to 
take  that  oath,  as  we  do  all  oaths,  viz  because  it  is  an 
oath;  not  because  of  the  declaration  therein  contained, 
of  such  duty  and  allegiance  as  every  true  and  well- 
affected  subject  ought  to  bear  to  the  king ;  nor  yet  be- 
cause of  the  testimony  or  declaration  therein  against 
the  pope,  his  pretended  power,  excommunications,  ab- 
solutions, damnable  positions,  &c.  therein  mention- 
ed ;  for  that  declaration  and  testimony  therein  contain- 
ed, for  fidelity  to  the  king  and  against  the  pope,  &c.  we 
can  freely  sign,  as  we  have  debvered  a  declaration  to 
that  purpose  to  the  late  long  parliament,  and  in  some 
points  containing  a  more  full  protestation  against  popery, 
in  the  most  erroneous,  idolatrous,  and  superstitious  doc- 
trines thereof:  which  declaration  was  accepted  by  a 
large  committee  of  parliament,  as  sufficient  to  distin- 
guish us  from  Papists,  and  entered  into  the  journal  of 
the  house  of  commons.  And  therefore  the  substance 
of  the  declaration  of  allegiance,  contained  in  the  oath 

*  George  Whitehead  published  at  the  time  a  very  particu- 
lar account  of  the  trial,  under  the  title  of  "  Due  order  of  Law  and 
Justice?,  ])li;adcd  against  irregular  and  arbitrary  Proceedings. 
Published  for  information  and  caution,  on  the  behalf  of  true  Pro- 
testants and  Englishmen's  birthrights."  Editor. 


G.     WIIITKIfKAI).  39 

of  allegiance,  we  cannot  oppugn,  but  own,  as  it  is  or 
may  be  transferred  or  intended  on  bebalfof  the  present 
king,  in  opposition  to  those  treasonable  practices  and 
principles  thereby  renounced  and  abjured  ;  as  being 
persuaded  in  conscience,  that  he  was  eminently  pre- 
served and  restored  by  the  hand  of  Divine  Providence, 
to  have  actual  power  and  dominion  in  this  realm  and 
all  other  his  countries,  knowing  that  the  Most  High 
rules  over  the  kingdoms  of  men  and  that  they  are  at 
his  disposal. 

And  we  also  believe,  that  in  good  conscience  we  are 
bound  to  demean  ourselves  honestly,  and  to  live  as 
peaceable  minded  Christians  and  true  protestant  sub- 
jects under  the  king  and  his  government,  giving  to 
Caisar  the  things  that  are  Ctesar's  and  to  God  tlie  things 
that  are  God's.  And  then  our  solemn  and  serious  pro- 
testation is  against  the  pope  asantichristian,  and  against 
those  popish  principles,  wicked  positions  and  practices, 
viz. 

Of  deposing  or  murdering  kings  and  princes  excom- 
municated by  the  pope. 

Of  disposing  of  their  kingdoms,  dominions,  and  coun- 
tries. 

Of  authorizing  foreign  princes  to  invade  and  annoy 
them. 

Of  absolving  subjects  from  their  allegiance  and  obe- 
dience. 

Of  licensing  any  of  them  to  bear  arms,  raise  tumults, 
or  otFcr  violence  or  hurt  to  their  lawful  kings,  princes, 
governments,  or  subjects. 

Of  treasons,  traitorous  conspiracies,  and  hellish  plots 
against  king,  government,  parliament,  oi-  people. 

Of  that  damnable  position,  that  princes  that  be  ex- 
communicated or  deprived  by  the  pope,  may  be  depos- 
ed by  their  subjects  or  any  other. 

All  which  destructive  principles  and  abominable  prac- 
tices, together  with  that  antichristian  spirit  from  whence 
they  proceed,  we  do  in  good  conscience  and  in  the  sight 
and  presence  of  God  who  knows  our  hearts,  utterly 


40  MEJIOIRS    OF 

abhor,  protest,  and  testify  against ;  and  therefore  do 
neither  refuse  nor  scruple  the  said  oath  in  favour  to 
these  or  any  such  principles. 

What  is  now  wanting  that  we  must  be  run  to  pre- 
munire,  to  lose  our  estates  and  liberties  ?  Is  a  peace- 
able conversation  wanting  on  our  parts?  No.  Is  the 
duty  of  allegiance  towards  our  king  wanting?  No.  Are 
we  infected  with  popish,  treacherous,  treasonable,  or 
destructive  principles  against  our  king,  or  his  govern- 
ment or  people?  No;  God  knows  the  innocency  of 
our  hearts  and  intentions,  and  men  know  our  peaceable 
conversations.  What  then  is  the  matter,  that  we  must 
be  so  severely  dealt  withal,  to  the  uttermost  rigour  of 
the  law,  to  be  deprived  of  all  outward  liberties,  pro- 
perties, estates,  livelihoods,  and  all  our  outward  com- 
forts in  this  world  ?  Are  we  guilty  of  any  such  essen- 
tial offence  or  capital  crime,  in  our  not  coming  under 
the  circumstance  of  an  oath,  as  may  justly  and  natu- 
rally merit  such  severity  ?  No,  surely.  The  case  is 
brought  to  a  near  point,  and  reduced  to  a  very  narrow 
compass. 

An  innocent,  honest,  quiet,  and  well  meaning  man, 
both  towards  the  king,  his  government,  and  people  ;  he 
is  truly  principled  in  his  duty ;  he  is  real  and  honest  in 
his  heart  towards  his  protestant  prince  ;  he  is  a  real 
protestant  against  the  pope  and  all  popish  antichristian 
positions  and  destructive  practices;  he  not  only  per- 
forms his  duty  of  allegiance  in  his  peaceable  conversa- 
tion, but  also  declares  it  in  the  sight  of  God  and  men, 
and  is  willing  to  sign  and  subscribe  such  declaration  of 
his  duty  of  allegiance,  if  he  may  not  otherwise  be  believ- 
ed ;  only  he  conscientiously  scruples  to  say,  I  swear, 
and  to  kiss  the  book,  to  make  his  declaration  an  oath  ; 
for  want  only  of  which  circumstance  and  ceremony, 
this  poor  innocent  man  and  sincere  protestant  must  be 
run  to  a  premunirc,  his  liberty  lost,  and  the  little 
estate  or  substance  he  has  must  be  forfeited  and  all 
taken  from  him  ;  his  poor  wife  and  small  children  left 
desolate,  wholly   impoverished  and   want  bread ;  his 


G.    WIIITEHKAD.  41 

wife  must  go  mourning  and  wringing  her  hands,  and 
sheddins  of  tears  night  and  dav,  for  the  hard  measure 
she  has  met  withal,  and  her  ciiildren  dolclully  crymg 
and  mourning  for  want  of  bread  ! 

Where  is  now  either  conscience,  equity,  reason,  jus- 
tice, or  mercy  ?  Were  it  not  very  inhuman  thus  to  de- 
stroy innocent  and  harmless  protestants,  and  thereby 
gratify  the  popish  spirit  and  party,  merely  because 
such  protestants  are  afraid  of  an  oath  ?  they  dare  not 
swear.  And  how  is  the  real  intent  and  end  of  the  law 
answered,  by  such  severe  and  inhuman  dealings  with 
innocent  protestants ;  who  never  were  impeached  nor 
justly  chargeable  either  with  treasonable  attempts, 
principles,  or  practices  ?  They  cannot  be  detected  ei- 
ther in  actual  treason,  or  in  being  infected  with  any 
treasonable  principles  by  any  of  their  teachers  or  others; 
and  therefore,  no  such  persons  or  people  as  those  laws 
of  premunire  were  really  intended  against,  tliough  such 
can  escape  them.  We  can  appeal  to  God,  angels,  and 
all  just  impartial  men  this  is  our  case  ;  we  arc  not  the 
people  which,  in  point  of  equity  or  justice,  the  law 
could  ever  be  intended  against;  we  are  of  no  such  de- 
structive principles  oi'  practices,  as  either  the  nature  of 
the  oath  points  at  and  intends,  or  the  statute  o("  picmu- 
nire,  16  K.  2,  c.  5,  was  provided  against;  unto  which 
statute  both  that  of  the  third  of  king  James,  c.  4,  and 
sevenih  of  king  James,  c.  G,  do  refer,  for  the  penalty  of 
a  premunire  upon  persons  refusing  to  swear  to  the 
declaration  of  their  allegiance.  Let  that  of  10  R. 
2,  c.  5,  be  considered,  as  to  the  nature  and  intent 
thereof. 


George  Whitehead  thus  continues  his  narrative. 

It  was  very  observeable,  that  before  the  dissolution  of 
that  long  parliament  in  king  Charles  the  Second's  reign, 
which  tnade  sundry  acts  against  us,  there  was  a  great 
alteration  in  its  disposition,  being  much  turned  against 
persecuting  dissenting  protestants,  especially  by  those 

D   2 


42  MEMOIKS    OF 

laws  made  against  popish  recusants ;  and  there  was 
certainly  an  overruling  power  and  hand  of  the  Lord 
God  in  that  alteration  and  change  of  the  spirit  of  that 
parliament,  to  compassion  rather  than  persecution.  He 
that  standeth  in  the  congregation  of  the  mighty,  and 
judgeth  among  the  gods,  did  certainly  judge  and  plead 
for  the  cause  of  the  innocent  sufferers  under  the  great 
and  long  persecutions  that  had  been  upon  them.  And 
it  was  also  remarkable,  that  some  time  before  the  said 
long  parliament  was  dissolved,  many  of  our  old  adver- 
saries and  rigid  persecutors  therein  were  removed  by 
death,  and  new  members  of  better  spiiits  and  tempers 
chosen  in  their  stead  ;  insomuch  that  before  that  par- 
liament was  ended,  it  was  so  changed  that  it  appeared 
almost  like  anew  house  of  commons. 

After  which,  the  ensuing  parliaments  appeared  more 
and  more  considerate,  and  inclined  to  moderation  and 
charity  towards  dissenting  protestants;  and  such  were 
we  esteemed,  being  publicly  manifest  by  our  plain  testi- 
mony against  popery.  For  towards  the  conclusion  of  the 
aforesaid  long  parliament,  which  was  so  nmch  altered 
for  the  better  by  new  elections,  &c.  a  grand  committee 
of  the  whole  house  was  appointed,  to  enquire  into  the 
case  of  the  Quakers  suffering  by  those  old  laws  made 
against  popish  recusants,  in  the  reigns  of  queen  Eliza- 
beth and  king  James  the  first.  Divers  of  us  aj)peared 
before  that  committee,  among  whom  were  William 
Mead,  William  Penn,*  myself,  with  some  others- ;  and 

*  The  attention  of  tho  parliament,  was  drawn  to  the  considcra^ 
lion  of  the  discrimination  of  Protestant  dissenters  in  general  from 
Papists,  and  William  Penn  presented  petitions  to  both  houses,  pray- 
ins;  that  in  the  discriminating  clause,  tho  solcum  declaration  of  a 
Quaker  mifrht  bo  taken  instead  of  his  oath. 

Two  speeches  of  his  before  the  committee  on  this  occasion  are 
preserved,  in  v/hich  he  strongly  denied  the  imputation  of  popery,  ■ 
and  at  the  same  time  dared  to  speak  his  mind  as  to  the  error  of  per- 
secuting any  person  wkata-cr  for  tlieir  conscientious  belief.  The 
following  passages  from  his  speeches  may  probably  be  agreeable 
to  the  reader. 

After  speaking  of  tho  abuse  which  had  been  heaped  upon  liim- 
sclf  particularly,  as  a  papist,  and  even  as  an  emissary  from  Homo 


G..  WHITEHEAD.  43 

two  things  were  inquired  of  us,  or  which  we  were  to 
inform  the  said  comnjittec  of. 

1.  If  we  owned  ourselves  to  be  protestant  dissenters? 

2.  How  we  sujfered  by  laws  made  against   popish 
recusants? 

In  both  which  we   fully  satisfied  the  committee,  and 
our  case  was  generally  considered  unjust  as  well  as  il- 


and  in  pay  from  the  pope,  he  says  :  "  Nay,  some  zealots  for  the 
Protestant  religion  have  been  so  far  gone  in  this  mistake,  as  not 
only  to  think  ill  of  us  and  decline  our  conversation,  but  to  take 
courage  to  themselves  to  prosecute  us  for  a  sort  of  concealed  Pa. 
pists  ;  and  tlie  truth  is,  that  what  with  one  thing  and  what  with 
another,  we  have  been  as  the  wool-sacks  and  common  whipping 
stock  of  the  kingdom.  All  laws  liave  been  let  loose  upon  us,  as  if 
the  design  were  not  to  reform  but  to  dtslroy  \is ;  and  this  not  for 
what  wu  are,  but  for  what  we  are  not.  It  is  liard  that  we  must 
thus  bear  the  stripes  of  another  interest,  and  be  their  proxy  in  pun- 
ishment. But  mark  !  I  would  not  be  mistaken  ;  I  am  far  from 
thinking  it  fit,  because  I  exclaim  again.st  the  injustice  of  whipping 
Quakers  for  Papists,  that  P.ipists  should  be  wliipt  for  their  con- 
sciences. No;  for  though  the  hand  preteiided  to  be  lifted  up 
against  them  hath,  I  know  not  by  what  discretion,  lighted  heavily 
upon  us  ;  and  we  complain  ;  yet  we  do  not  mean  that  any  should 
take  a  tresh  aim  at  them,  or  that  they  should  come  in  our  room  ; 
for  we  must  give  the  liberty  we  ask,  and  cannot  be  false  to  our 
principles,  though  it  were  to  relieve  ourselves ;  for  we  have  good 
will  to  all  men,  and  would  have  none  sulfer  for  a  truly  sober  and 
conscientious  dissent  on  any  hand." 

Towards  the  conclusion  ho  says  :  "  I  do  here  solemnly  declare, 
in  the  presence  of  Almighty  God,  and  before  you  all,  that  the  pro- 
fession 1  now  make  and  the  Society  I  now  adhere  to,  have  been  so 
far  from  altering  that  protestant  judgment  I  had,  that  I  am  not 
conscious  to  myself,  of  having  rcccdedfrom  an  t'o/aof  any  one  prin- 
ciple, maintained  by  those  first  protestants  and  reformers  of  Ger- 
many, and  our  own  martyrs  at  home,  against  the  see  of  Rome.  On 
the  contrary,  I  do  with  great  truth  assure  you,  that  we  are  of  the 
same  negative  faith  with  the  ancient  Protestant  Church  ;  and  upon 
occasion  shall  bo  ready,  by  God's  assistance,  to  make  it  appear, 
that  wo  are  of  the  same  belief  as  to  the  most  fundamental  articles 
of  her  creed  too  ;  and  therefore  it  is  we  think  it  hard,  that  though 
we  deny,  in  common  with  her,  those  doctrines  of  Rome  so  strenu- 
ously/;ro/(«/f(f  against,  whence  the  name  Protestants,  v.o  should  ba 
so  unhappy  as  to  suiior,  and  that  with  extreme  severity,  by  thoso 
very  laws  on  purpose  made  against  the  maintainers  of  those  doc- 
trines wiiich  wo  so  deny."  Clarksons  Life  of  IV.  Penn,  vol.  1, 
page  2-^1.  Editor. 


44  MEMOIKS    OF 

legal ;  since  we  suffered  as  popish  recusants,  when  we 
were  manifest  to  be  real  protcstants,  and  the  papists 
were  indulged  and  went  free;  though  for  our  parts  we 
envied  not  their  liberty,  although  we  dec]  ly  sullered 
in  their  stead. 

It  was  very  remarkable,  that  while  our  persecutors 
were  persecuting  us  upon  the  Conventicle  Act,  and 
statutes  made  against  popish  recusants,  and  unjustly 
aspersing  our  religious  assemblies,  as  being  seditious 
conventicles  and  very  dangerous  to  plot  and  contrive 
insurrections,  &c. ;  about  that  very  time,  discovery  was 
made  of  the  popish  plot. 

This  plot  being  strictly  inquired  into  by  the  com- 
mons in  parliament,  great  information  was  given  about 
it ;  and  in  the  address  of  both  houses  of  parliament  to 
the  king,  complaint  was  made  against  the  conspirators 
in  tliese  wortis,  \'v/..  "  A  popish  party,  who  have  not 
only  plotted  and  intended  the  destruction  of  your  ma- 
jesty's royal  person,  but  the  total  subversion  of  the 
government  and  true  leligion  established  among  us," 
&c. 

From  which  it  ir.ay  be  observed,  that  it  was  not  in 
anv  of  the  Quaker's  meetings,  nor  in  the  meetings  of 
anv  other  dissenting  protestants,  that  this  conspiracy  or 
plot  was  found;  but  among  a  popish  party.  How  un- 
just was  it  therefore,  so  severely  to  perseoote  tlie  j)eo- 
ple  called  Quakers,  and  violently  to  interrupt  their 
religious  meetings,  under  pretence  of  being  seditious 
and  dangerous  to  [)lot  and  contiive  insurrecHons,  to 
impri.von  their  persons,  to  fine  them,  and  often  to  spoil 
th(;ir  goods'?  And  not  only  to  treat  them  thus,  but  to 
prosecute  them  upon  those  laws  made  against  popish 
recusants  and  not  against  innocent  protestants ;  even 
whilst,  as  it  is  said,  '*  this  restless  |)arty  (meaning  of 
papists)  not  eonteni  uith  the  great  liberty  they  had  a 
long  time  enjoyed,  to  exercise  their  own  religion  pri- 
vately among  themselves,  to  partake  of  an  equal  free- 
dom of  their  persons  and  estates  with  your  majesty's 
protestant  subjects,  and  of  an  advantage  above  them 


G.    WIHTEnEAD.  46 

in  being  excused  from  chargeable  offices  and  employ- 
ments," &c.  So  that  it  then  appeared  to  the  parHa- 
ment,  that  tiie  papists  escaped  the  penalties  of  those 
old  laws  made  against  them,  for  tlieir  absence  from  their 
parish  churches,  much  more  than  the  people  called 
(Quakers  could,  who  deeply  sufTcrcd  thereby. 

After  the  discovery  of  the  said  popish  plot,  and  the 
impeachment,  trial,  and  condemnation  of  William  Lord 
Viscount  Stafford,  in  December,  1680,  the  parliament 
thought  it  very  necessary  to  consider  and  provide  some 
means  to  increase  the  interest  of  all  protestants,  and 
strengthen  and  unite  them  in  interest  and  affection,  for 
the  better  security  of  the  kingdom  and  government; 
which  had  been  long  weakened  and  greatly  injured  by 
persecution. 

Then  the  parliament  bethought  themselves  of  pre- 
paring and  bringing  in  a  bill  for  dissenting  protestants. 
In  the  votes  of  the  house  of  commons,  the  16th  day  of 
December,  1680,  there  is  this,  viz. 

"A  bill  for  exempting  his  majesty's  protestant  sub- 
jects, dissenting  from  the  Church  of  England,  from  the 
penalties  of  certain  laws,  was  read  the  first  time." 

This  bill  was  read  a  second  time,  and  it  was  "  re- 
solved, that  the  said  bill  be  committed  upon  the  debate 
of  the  house,  to  the  committee  to  whom  the  bill  for 
uniting  his  majesty's  protestant  subjects  is  committed 
upon  the  debate  of  the  house." 

Divers  Friends  attended  the  committee  some  consi- 
derable time  that  winter,  about  tlie  said  bill,  both  early 
and  late  ;  desiring  that  it  might  be  made  etrectual  for 
our  just  liberty  and  freedom  from  persecution,  and  clear 
from  all  clauses  and  provisoes  which  might  in  any  way 
be  a  snare  to  us,  or  contrary  to  our  tender  consciences  ; 
and  to  answer  the  end  intended  both  by  the  title  and 
preamble;  the  title  being,  "A  bill  of  case  to  all  pro- 
testant dissenters  ;"  and  tlie  preamble  thus :  "  Foras- 
much as  some  ease  to  tender  consciences  in  the  exer- 
cise of  religion,  may  be  an  effectual  means  to  unite  his 


46  JiKMoins  OF 

majesty's  protestant  subjects  in  interest  and  affection, 
which  is  highly  necessary  in  this  time  of  imminent 
danger  from  the  common  enemy  the  papists,  be  it  en- 
acted," &,c. 

Which  bill  contained  divers  clauses  which  are  in  the 
act  of  the  first  of  king  William  the  Tliird,  for  exempt- 
ing protestant  dissenters  from  the  Church  of  England, 
from  the  penalties  of  certain  laws,  that  is,  of  those 
made  against  popish  recusants  and  conventicles,  where- 
by we  the  said  people  chiefly  suffered  ;  and  also  in  the 
said  bill  this  special  exemption  was  made  in  our  fa- 
vour, viz. 

"  And  whereas  there  are  certain  other  persons,  dis- 
senters from  the  Church  of  England,  which  scruple 
taking  any  oath. 

"  Be  it  enacted  by  the  authority  aforesaid,  that  every 
such  person  shall  make  and  subscribe  the  aforesaid 
declaration,  and  also  this  declaration  of  allegiance  fol- 
lowing," &c. 

The  first  being  the  declaration  mentioned  in  a  stat- 
ute, made  in  the  twentieth  year  of  king  Charles  the 
Second,  entitled,  "  An  act  to  prevent  papists  from  sit- 
ting in  either  house  of  parliament." 

The  second  being  the  declaration  of  allegiance,  with- 
out taking  the  oath  :  which  divers  Friends  have  for- 
merly proffered,  being  willing  to  sign  the  declaration 
without  swearing  to  it,  or  using  any  of  the  words  which 
render  it  an  oath,  as  I  swear,  this  oath,  &c.  or  the  final 
imprecation  of,  "  so  help  me  Cod,"  which  more  fully 
makes  it  an  oath,  together  with  kissing  the  book. 

As  we  were  to  be  exempted  from  these,  we  esteem- 
ed it  a  favour  then  intended  us;  ti)Ough  it  could  not  in 
that  parliament  and  reign  of  king  Charles  the  Second, 
be  brought  into  an  act ;  yet  there  was  some  honest  and 
good  beginning,  which  afterward,  in  the  reign  of  king 
William  the  Third,  upon  more  mature  deliberation  was 
made  more  effectual. 

The  chairman  of  that  committee  which  sat  upon  the 
said  bill,  was  the  lord  Finch,  since  earl  of  Nottingham, 


G.    WHITEHEAD.  47 

who  then  appeared  favourable  and  friendly  to  us ;  and 
for  promoting  the  said  bill  into  an  act,  if  it  could  have 
been,  in  that  parliament ;  and  to  some  of  us  since  that, 
he  has  positively  declared  his  opinion  to  be  for  tolera- 
tion, without  which  neither  we  nor  their  church  are 
safe. 

In  the  said  committee  we  met  with  some  interrup- 
tion, by  tv/o  or  three  members  who  were  favourers  of 
the  Presbyterians  and  Independents'  societies ;  they 
olfering  terms  of  (he  ease  intended  in  the  said  bill,  in 
behalf  of  their  friends  the  Presbyterians  and  Indepen- 
dents, which  we  the  people  called  Quakers  could  not 
assent  to,  namely,  the  taking  the  oaths  of  supremacy 
and  allegiance.  And  if  they  had  gotten  what  they 
offered,  inserted  in  the  bill  or  act,  as  terms  of  ease  to 
dissenting  protcstants,  we  well  knew  we  should  have 
been  excluded,  and  still  exposed  to  persecution  and 
sufferings.  1  was  indeed  burdened  when  they  made 
such  an  offer,  because  I  was  sensible  it  tended  to  the 
injury  of  many  other  conscientious  protestant  dissen- 
ters. 

Wherefore  on  the  same  occasion  I  quickly  went  both 
to  colonel  Birch  and  Alderman  Love,  and  cleared  my 
conscience  to  them  against  what  they  had  offered  ; 
knowing  it  would  be  very  uneasy  to  truly  conscientious 
dissenters,  to  have  the  oath  of  supremacy  imposed  upon 
them  ;  and  thereby  to  swear,  that  they  utterly  declare 
and  testify  in  their  conscience,  that  the  king's  liighness 
is  the  onlv  supreme  governor  of  this  realm,  &c.  as  well 
in  all  spiritual  or  ecclesiastical  things,  or  cases,  as  tem- 
poral, &c.  How  to  reconcile  with  this  oath,  their  dis- 
senting in  spiritual  or  ecclesiastical  matters  from  the 
Church  of  England,  I  knew  not,  neither  did  I  find  they 
could  tell  or  demonstrate;  nor  how  they  could  promise, 
that  to  their  power  they  would  assist  and  defend  all 
jurisdictions,  privileges,  pre-eminences,  and  authorities 
granted  or  belonging  to  the  king,  his  heirs  and  succes- 
sors, or  united  and  annexed  to  the  imperial  crown  of 
this  realm. 


48  MEMOins    OF 

1  did  both  seriously  and  tenderly  clear  my  con- 
science  in  the  matter  to  them ;  for  I  wished  well  to  the 
men.  After  all  our  endeavours  to  have  the  said  bill  of 
ease  passed  with  safety  into  an  act,  and  our  attendance 
on  that  parliament,  the  king's  dissolving  the  same  pre- 
vented it. 

One  circumstance  1  took  particular  notice  of:  one 
night  when  we  were  attending  the  said  committee,  Sir 
Christopher  Musgrave  came  and  complained  to  the 
committee,  against  the  severe  usage  of  many  of  our 
Friends  ;  telling  the  committee  the  prisons  were  filled 
with  them,  and  how  many  for  small  matters  were  ex- 
communicated and  imprisoned  ;  and  what  a  shame  and 
scandal  it  was  to  their  Church,  to  use  the  Qakers  so 
hardly  for  such  small  matters,  &.c. ;  or  to  the  same 
effect. 

I  little  expected  he  would  have  then  appeared  openly 
an  advocate  so  far  for  our  suffering  Friends,  being  a 
person  who  professed  much  zeal  for  their  Church  ;  yet 
he  saw  it  was  not  for  its  honour,  to  be  guilty  of  such 
severe  persecution. 

Although  that  parliament  did  not  pass  the  act  intend- 
ed for  the  ease  of  protestant  dissenters,  yet  before  their 
dissolution  they  passed  a  vote  against  persecution. 

It  was  resolved  in  the  house  of  commons :  "  That  it 
is  the  opinion  of  this  house,  that  the  prosecution  of  pro- 
testant dissenters  upon  the  penal  laws,*  is  at  this  time 
grievous  to  the  subject,  a  weakening  of  the  protestant 
interest,  an  encouragement  to  popery,  and  dangerous 
to  the  peace  of  the  kingdom." 

Being  sensible  the  Lord  was  pleased  to  open  the  eyes 
of  the  parliament,  to  see  what  a  popish  design  it  was, 
for  a  protestant  church,  so  called,  to  prosecute  protes- 
tants ;  we  were  the  more  concerned  at   that  time  to 


*  Although  these  laws  were  originally  designed  against  tlie  Pa- 
pists, yet  all  persons  who  did  not  go  to  church,  and  did  not  receive 
the  sacrament  once  a  year,  were  liable  to  their  penalties. 

Edilor. 


G.    WnlTEHEAD.  49 

attend  the  parliament,  and  to  encourage  their  endea- 
vours against  persecution  ;  to  frustrate  the  design  of 
popery,  which  is  persecution  and  violent  coercion.  The 
zeal  then  stirring  in  the  government  against  the  same, 
deserved  to  be  countenanced,  though  it  had  not  the  de- 
sired effect. 

However  just  and  good  motions  and  endeavours,  may 
for  a  time  be  overruled  and  frustrated,  they  will  in 
time  revive  and  break  forth  again,  and  be  made  to 
take  effect  by  a  Divine  overruling  power  and  provi- 
dence, as  has  in  our  days  appeared.  Thanks  be  to  God 
who  has  opened  the  eyes  of  the  government  on  sundry 
occasions,  especially  in  latter  times,  against  popery  and 
persecution,  which  are  both  one  in  nature  and  ground  : 
for  persecution  for  conscience  is  popery,  whatever 
church,  people,  or  profession  are  for  it  or  abet  it ;  they 
are  drunk  and  blind,  and  shall  drink  of  the  wine  of  the 
wrath  of  God. 

Another  instance  of  the  parliament's  design  to  re- 
move persecution,  was  the  passing  a  bill  in  both  houses, 
entitled,  "An  act  for  the  repeal  of  a  statute  made  in 
the  35th  year  of  the  reign  of  queen  Elizabeth ;"  and 
taking  notice  thereof  in  the  ensuing  parliament  at  Ox- 
ford, in  the  vote  of  24  die  martii,  1680-81,  that  it  was 
not  presented  to  his  majesty,  as  the  rest  of  the  bills 
were,  for  his  royal  assent.  And  also  it  was  resolved, 
that  the  house  would  next  day  take  into  consideration, 
by  what  means  the  said  bill  miscarried. 

According  to  which  order,  in  the  next  day's  votes  it 
is  declared : 

"  That  the  house  took  into  consideration,  the  matter 
relating  to  the  bill  which  passed  both  houses  in  the  last 
parliament,  entitled,  an  act  for  the  repeal  of  a  statute 
made  in  the  35th  year  of  the  reign  of  queen  Elizabeth  j 
but  was  not  tendered  to  his  majesty  for  his  royal 
assent.* 


*   Burnet  says:  "  On  the  day  of  the  prorogation,  the  bill  ought 
to   have  been  offered  to   the  king  ;  but  the  clerk  of  the  crown,  by 

VOL.    II.  E 


50  MEMOIRS    OF 

How  this  bill  came  to  miscarry  we  did  not  hear ; 
whether  designedly  mislaid  or  stolen,  was  questioned. 
It  was  pity  it  was  not  presented  and  passed,  as  both 
parliaments  desired,  viz-  that  in  1G80  at  Westminster, 
and  that  at  Oxford  1G81.  For  if  the  said  statute  of 
the  35th  of  queen  Elizabeth  had  been  utterly  repealed, 
it  had  given  a  blow  to  the  design  of  persecution  and 
popery,  which  is  greatly  strengthened  thereby  ;  it 
being  a  precident  and  plea  for  the  popish  church  to 
use  their  most  severe  persecution  against  protestants, 
even  unto  death,  for  their  religion  and  dissent  from  the 
Church  of  Rome.  The  said  statute  of  the  35th  of 
queen  Elizabeth  being  a  sanguinary  law,  to  force  dis- 
senters to  abjure  the  realm  upon  pain  of  death  ;  and 
in  her  days  several  were  put  to  death. 

And  there  appears  as  much  reason  that  that  severe 
and  sanguinary  law  should  be  disannulled  and  abro- 
gated, as  there  was  for  the  utter  abolishment  of  the 
writ,  de  hcsrelico  comhurendo,  and  all  proceedings 
thereupon,  with  all  punishment  by  death  in  pursuance 
of  any  ecclesiastical  censures ;  which  were  so  abolished 
by  the  statute  of  the  29th  Car.  2.  ch.  9. 

For  as  the  popish  hierarchy  and  governments  unjustly 
turned  the  execution  of  the  said  writ  against  the 
protestant  martyrs,  so  they  were  as  likely  to  turn  the 
said  statute  of  queen  Elizabeth  35,  against  the  protes- 
tant dissenters  ;  and  there  was  the  same  reason  for  the 
repealing  of  one  as  the  other. 

However,  it  was  a  mercy  of  God  to  the  nation,  to 
raise  up  a  contrary  spirit  to  that  of  persecution  in  the 
parliament  in  those  days.  And  yet  that  furious  spirit 
remained  among  many  of  the  clergy,  and  the  irreh- 
gious  followers  and  members  of  their  church,  who  were 
still  watching  for  opportunities  to  renew  persecution 
against  honest  innocent  people,  especially   against  us, 

the  king's  paillcular  order,  withdrew  the  bill.     The  king  had    no 
mind  openly  to  deny  it,  but  he  had  less  mind  to  pass  it." 

Editor. 


G.  WHITEHEAD.  51 

and  to  enforce  a  conformity  in  church  and  worship 
with  them,  contrary  to  our  consciences ;  we  being 
under  a  Divine  obligation  to  worship  God  in  spirit  and 
truth,  and  not  in  human  traditions,  after  the  command- 
ments, doctrines,  or  precepts  of  men. 

It  is  true  we  had  some  limes  of  respite  and  ease  from 
severe  persecutions  in  those  days,  upon  the  king's  said 
declaration  for  hberty  to  tender  consciences ;  yet  those 
times  were  but  short,  in  comparison  of  the  long  con- 
tinuance of  those  renewed  persecutions  which  we  suf- 
fered in  those  days. 

Informers,  like  beasts  of  prey,  were  lurking,  creeping, 
and  sculking  about  in  many  or  most  parts  of  the  nation, 
where  our  Friends  had  meetings  for  the  worship  of 
God  ;  being  encouraged  by  thos-e  of  the  clergy  and  per- 
secuting magistrates,  who  esteemed  them  useful  ser- 
vants of  their  church*  to  enforce  conformity,  though 
without  conviction  of  conscience.  Several  of  the  priests 
also  turning  informers  and  assisting  to  distui'b  our  reli- 
gious meetings  in  divers  places ;  all  which  ministered 
encouragement  to  such  vile  persons,  in  their  unchristian 
and  destructive  work  against  innocent  families  and 
people. 

Some  of  the  priests  even  pleaded  for  and  preached 
up  coercion  in  matters  of  religion,  from  those  texts,  Ezra 
vii.  26,  and  Rum.  xiii.  1,2;  though  miserably  perverted 
when  applied  to  uphold  persecution  for  matters  of 
conscience,  comparing  both  texts  with  the  decree  of 

*  William  Croucli  and  I,  anno  16f!3,  having  some  discourse  with 
Dr.  Sancroft,  Archbishop  of  Canterbury,  at  his  palace  at  Lam- 
beth, about  the  groat  sufferings  of  our  Friends  by  informers,  and  I 
telling  him  what  wicked  persons  they  were,  and  that  many  of  thera 
had  forsworn  themselves,  and  deserved  to  be  indicted  for  perjury ; 
and  what  a  dishonour  it  was  to  their  Church,  to  employ  such 
agents  to  force  people  to  a  conformity  by  persecution  and  spoil, 
&c. ;  to  excuse  them  his  answer  was  :  "  There  must  be  some  crook- 
ed timber  used  in  building  a  ship,"  or  "  A  ship  cannot  be  built 
without  some  crooked  timber  in  it."  Was  not  this  a  learned  and 
apt  comparison,  to  show  what  sort  of  timber  must  needs  help  to 
build  and  support  their  Church  1 


52  MEMOIRS    OF 

Artaxerxes  king  of  Persia,  and  the  great  encourage- 
ment and  liberty  of  conscience  which  he  granted,  and 
gave  to  Ezra  and  Israel,  with  respect  to  the  worship 
and  service  of  their  God  according  to  their  religion ; 
as  fully  appears  in  the  same  chapter. 

If  an  emperor,  king,  or  chief  ruler  be  a  papist  or  an 
idolater,  and  would  force  me  to  be  of  his  religion,  or 
conform  to  his  way  and  manner  of  worship,  upon  some 
great  penalties  or  pains,  even  of  death  itself;  I  must 
not  therefore  comply  with  him  or  be  subject  to  his  will 
therein,  if  I  be  a  true  Christian,  but  stand  fast  in  that 
liberty  wherewith  Christ  hath  set  me  free ;  or  other- 
wise 1  should  fJFill  under  miserable  bondage,  and  lose  my 
inward  peace  with  God.  And  then  what  good  would 
all  the  world  do  me  1  1  would  rather  make  Moses's 
choice,  to  sufler  allliction  with  the  people  of  God,  than 
to  enjoy  the  pleasures  of  sin  for  a  short  season ;  and  at 
last  end  in  tribulation  and  anguish  of  soul. 

It  was  observable,  that  when  the  informers  were  let 
loose  and  countenanced  by  authority  against  us,  they 
generally  sought  more  after  our  estates  than  the  con- 
finement of  our  persons,  because  imprisonment  would 
not  be  their  gain;  although  many  of  our  Friends  re- 
mained in  prisons,  as  appears  by  the  following  petition. 

TO    THE    KING. 

The  humble  petition  of  above  a  thousand  prisoners, 
commonly  called  Quakers, 

Showeth : 

That  our  renewed  hardships,  our  continued  and  in- 
creasing imprisonments,  do  occasion  this  our  humble 
complaint  and  request ;  of  which  we  intreat  the  king's 
favourable  acceptance  and  tender  resentments.  We  do 
solemnly  declare,  that  we  know  no  other  cause  for  our 
strait  confinements  and  hard  usage,  than  what  concerns 
our  tender  consciences,  in  serving  and  worshipping  Al- 
mighty God  that  made  us  ;  being  well  known  to  be  per- 
sons of  quiet  conversation  and  peaceable  behaviour,  and 


G.    WHITEHEAD.  53 

clear  in  the  sight  of  God  of  all  seditious  contrivances, 
plots,  and  conspiracies,  and  are  not  evilly  affected  to- 
wards the  king's  person  or  government.  Ilowbeit,  seve- 
ral gaols  are  filled,  without  regard  to  sex,  age,  or  condi- 
tion, not  only  to  the  impairing  our  healths,  but  endan- 
gering many  of  our  lives ;  many  having  already  died 
prisoners,  the  greatest  part  of  late  committed  for  our 
peaceable  religious  meetings  ;  many  of  us  under  fines 
for  that  account,  and  upon  the  act  of  13  and  14  Car.  2. 
c.  1,  extending  also  to  banishment.  In  some  gaols,  many 
of  us  crowded  in  nasty  holes  and  mixed  among  felons  ; 
many  under  sentence  of  premunire,  not  for  refusing  fi- 
delity or  allegiance  to  the  king,  but  only  not  swearing 
the  same  for  conscience'  sake  ;  many  under  sentence  of 
excommunication,  committed  on  writs  of  excom.  cap. 
&c.  for  nonconformity,  &c.  and  have  undergone  long 
and  tedious  imprisonments.  By  which  confinements 
and  hardships,  many  innocent  and  industrious  families 
are  left  destitute  and  in  distress ;  many  honest  trades- 
men, husbandmen,  and  farmers,  greatly  discouraged  and 
spoiled  in  their  trades  and  livelihoods;  and  many  poor 
families  depending  on  them  for  employment,  now  for 
lack  thereof  exposed  to  great  penury  and  want.  Be- 
sides the  violence  and  v^^oful  spoil  made  upon  many,  both 
in  city  and  country,  by  informers,  persecutions,  <Slc.  ; 
and  for  twenty  pounds  a  month,  and  two-thirds  of  es- 
tates seized  into  the  king's  hands,  &c.;  which  will  un- 
avoidably force  many  to  shut  up  shops  and  leave  off  their 
trades  and  farms,  &c.  (as  some  have  done  already)  if 
not  timely  relieved. 

We  therefore,  who  are  concerned  in  the  sufferings 
aforesaid,  do  in  all  Christian  humility  request,  that  the 
king  in  his  princely  compassion,  will  please  to  take  our 
distressed  case  into  his  tender  consideration,  and  afford 
us  relief  from  these  hardships  and  imprisonments,  as  he 
hath  formerly  done  for  many  of  our  suffering  Friends, 
which  we  do  thankfully  acknowledge ;  we  being  sincere- 
ly desirous,  by  the  grace  of  God,  to  live  peaceably  and 
inoffensively  under  the  king  and  his  government. 

E  2 


54  MEMOIRS    OF 

Wherefore,  according  as  our  conversations  are  found 
concurring  with  this  our  solemn  profession,  we  humbly 
crave  liberty,  that  we  may  provide  for  our  distressed 
families,  and  be  capable  of  rendering  to  Caisar  those 
things  that  are  Cesar's,  and  to  God  the  things  that  are 
God's  ;  according  to  our  Christian  principle  and  persua- 
sion. 

We  did  not  only  in  this  manner  labour  to  influence  the 
king  with  a  sense  of  the  general  case  of  our  Friends' 
sufferings,  but  also  were  very  free  and  desirous  to  give 
him  particular  and  plain  instances  thereof;  in  which 
concern  1  was  many  times  very  free  to  appear  before 
the  king  himself;  especially  when  desired  to  assist  such 
Friends  as  were  concerned  for  the  sufTerers,  when  they 
have  come  to  London  to  apply  to  him  in  their  behalf; 
and  also  when  we  have  had  certain  accounts  of  great 
oppressions  sent  from  several  parts  of  the  nation,  1  have 
been  stirred  in  spirit  and  desirous  to  acquaint  the  king 
therewith ;  that  he  might  be  inexcusable,  and  not  plead 
ignorance  of  the  miseries  of  those  his  innocent  subjects. 

In  my  appearing  before  the  king  and  council,  as  by 
the  following  account,  our  Friends  Lawrence  Steel  and 
Charles  Jones,  jun.  of  Bristol,  were  with  me ;  being 
come  to  London  on  purpose  to  seek  relief  or  some  ease 
for  our  Friends,  who  were  then  closely  confined  and 
crowded  in  prison  in  that  city.* 

*  In  this  time  of  persecution  (1682)  Bristol  was  almost  preemi- 
nent in  sufferiniT.  The  meetings  of  Friends  were  disturbed  in  the 
most  brutal  manner  ;  and  by  the  proceedings  against  them  many 
families  were  ruined.  So  many  also  were  committed  to  prison, 
that  at  length  tiiere  was  no  more  room  in  the  gaols.  About  fifty 
persons  were  crowded  into  one  room,  which  was  so  nasty  that  one 
of  the  aldermen  said  :  "  If  lie  had  a  dog  which  he  loved,  he  would 
not  put  him  tlinre."  Four  physicians  of  Bristol  signed  a  certificate, 
declaring  that  the  closeness  of  the  prisoners'  confinement  and  their 
want  of  room  for  rest,  was  in  danger  of  inducing  infectious  dis- 
tempers. The  sheriff',  however,  who  was  the  main  actor  in  the  per- 
secution, disregarded  all  representations;  and  there  appears  to 
have  been  but  little  commisseration  excited  in  the  public  mind,  in 
behalf  of  the  poor  Quakers.     So  desperately  wicked  was  the  gaoler, 


G.    WHITEHEAD.  55 

Being  willing  lo  assist  them  what  I  could  in  solicita- 
tion, as  I  was  deeply  and  compassionately  atfected  to- 
ward our  said  Friends,  I  acquainted  some  of  the  lords 
of  the  privy  council,  as  Prince  Rupert  the  lord  president, 
and  lord  chancellor  with  the  case;  and  desired  we 
might  be  heard  before  the  king  and  council  the  follow- 
ing council  day,  which  was  granted  us.  Prince  Rupert 
and  the  lord  president  appeared  most  compassionate 
and  tender  toward  our  Friends,  when  they  understood 
the  extremity  of  their  sufferings  ;  and  the  lord  chancel- 
lor moderate. 

The  substance  of  passages  discoursed  before  the  king 
and  council,  relating  to  the  extreme  sulFerings  of  the 
people  called  Quakers,  in  the  city  of  Bristol.  George 
Whitehead,  Lawrence  Steel,  and  Charles  Jones,  jun. 
being  called  in  before  the  king  and  council,  the  17th  of 
the  12th  month,  1681-2. 

Some  question  arising  about  taking  off  their  hats,  the 
clerk  of  the  council.  Sir  Thomas  Doleman,  came  to  the 
door  to  take  them  off,  but  was  forbidden,  it  was  said  by 
the  king ;  so  they  were  concluded  to  come  in  before 
the  king  and  council  with  their  hats  on  ;  which  they 
did  accordingly. 

Some  present  said :  "  Go  up  to  the  king ;"  being  at 
the  head  of  the  board. 

George  Whitehead  then  went  nearer  the  king. 

George  Whitehead's  introductory  request. 

"  That  our  complaint  and  suffering  case  may  be 
heard  and  considered  abstractedly  from  those  religious 
circumstances  we  are  under,  which  may  seem  disgust- 
ful to  you,  that  we  may  have  justice  done  us. 

"  These  persons,  Lawrence  Steel  and  Charles  Jones, 
jun.  are  come  from  Bristol,  on  purpose  to  seek  relief  of 
the  king  from  the  hard  usage  our  Friends  suffer  under 
in  that  city,  beyond  the  severity  of  the  law,  as  we  con- 
ceive. 

that  when  the  prisoners  complained  for  want  of  room,  he  said  to 
his  man,  if  he  could  but  shut  the  door  it  would  be  well  enough. — 
See  Sewel,     »  Editor, 


56  MEMOIRS    OF 

"  They  are  able  to  speak  to  matters  of  fact,  from 
their  own  knowledge,  liow  our  Friends  are  used  ;  we 
intreat  the  king  that  they  may  be  heard ;  and  for  mat- 
ter of  law,  we  shall  leave  that  for  you  to  judge  of." 

One  in  council.  "  What  reason  have  we  to  believe 
their  words  against  other  men's  oaths,  who  are  sworn 
for  the  king  ?" 

George  Whitehead.  "  We  intreat  that  they  may  be 
heard,  to  give  their  accounts  on  those  particulars  com- 
plained of  in  our  petition,  which  is  delivered  in  before 
you  and  I  suppose  read ;  and  then  we  shall  refer  the 
credit  of  the  matters  complainedof  to  your  consciences, 
that  accordingly  we  may  have  justice  done  us." 

King.  "  Your  petition  is  not  now  read  ;  would  you 
have  it  read  1     It  has  been  read  before." 

Lawrence  Steel.  "  This  contains  further  matter  than 
what  has  yet  been  read  before  you." 

Lord  Cliancellor.     "  Of  what  do  you  complain  ?" 

Lavurence  Steel.  "  We  complain  of  the  havoc  and 
spoil  made  upon  the  freehold  and  tenement,  and  break- 
ing open  closets,  boxes,  &c." 

Lord  Chancellor.  ''  What,  you  mean  of  the  meet- 
ing room  ?" 

Lawrence  Steel.  "  Nay,  the  tenement  adjoining  to 
the  meeting  room ;  we  complain  of  the  rude  multitudes 
haling  and  tearing  women's  clothes,  and  offering  shame- 
ful incivilities  to  them;  also  their  pulling  an  innocent 
man's  coat  off  his  back,  and  taking  money  out  of  his 
pocket,"  &,c.  [Of  this,  though  he  had  more  to  speak, 
they  seemed  not  willing  to  hear  it.] 

Lord  Chancellor,     "  Of  whom  do  you  complain?" 

Lawrence  Steel.  "  We  are  loath  to  recriminate  per- 
sons by  name." 

Lord  Chancellor.  "  But  you  must  tell  us  who.  Is 
it  the  mayor?"  &c. 

George  Whitehead.  "  Let  them  have  some  of  their 
names." 

Lawrence  Steel.  "  John  Helliar  and  sheriff  Knight, 
with  a  rude  multitude." 


G.    WHITEHEAD.  '  57 

George  Whitehead.  "  It  appears  that  the  sheriff  and 
John  Helliar,  and  other  officers,  have  been  most  busy, 
and  have  encouraged  the  rude  multitude  in  their  abu- 
sive and  riotous  proceedings,  and  forced  many  to  gaol 
directly  from  their  meeting,  at  their  will  and  pleasure, 
without  any  examination  before  a  justice,  or  warrant  of 
commitment ;  and  then  have  so  crowded  and  filled  the 
gaol,  that  the  prisoners  have  not  room  to  take  their  na- 
tural rest ;  but  some  are  forced  to  sit  up  in  the  nights." 

Lord  Chancellor.  "  What  would  you  have  the  king 
do  ?     Would  you  have  him  relieve  you  from  the  law  ?" 

George  Whitehead.  "No;  we  desire  the  king  may 
relieve  us  from  such  irregular  proceedings,  as  we  con- 
ceive the  law  does  not  warrant." 

Lord  Chancellor.  "  Why  then  do  you  not  take 
course  at  law,  and  relieve  yourselves  by  law  ?" 

George  Whitehead.  "  The  prisoners  and  sufferers  in 
Bristol,  are  disabled  from  relieving  themselves  by  course 
of  law." 

Lord  Chancellor.  How  are  they  disabled?  What 
reason  can  you  give  that  they  are  so  disabled  ?" 

George  Whitehead.     "  Several  reasons,  as, 

"  First,  they  are  prosecuted  on  the  Conventicle  Act, 
made  the  22nd  year  of  the  king  ;  and  all  the  relief  al- 
lowed us  by  law,  is  by  way  of  appeal :  and  it  admits  of 
appeal  to  no  higher  court,  than  the  court  of  sessions 
belonging  to  the  same  county,  which  is  the  county  of 
Bristol,  where  there  is  no  probability  of  relief  upon  ap- 
peal ;  because  there  they  must  appeal  to  their  adver- 
saries, as  some  there  in  authority  are  ;  and  John  Knight, 
sheriff,  is  an  extreme  adversary,  and  has  been  violent 
against  them;  and  he  has  return  of  the  juries  accord- 
ing to  his  own  purpose. " 

King.  "'  Can  you  not  procure  a  London  jury  then  V' 
&c.* 

George  Whitehead.     "  Besides,  if  they  make  their  ap- 

*  Supposed  to  be  meant  of  the  jury  that  acquitted  the  earl  of 
Shaftsbury,  and  some  others,  upon  trial  in  London. 


58  MEMOIKS    OF 

peal,  they  are  liable  to  have  the  oath  of  allegiance  put 
to  them,  to  prevent  prosecuting  llicir  appeal;  for  such 
kind  of  precipitant  course  hath  been  used  against  us." 

One  in  council.  "  He  counts  the  tender  of  the  oath 
of  allegiance  a  precipitancy,"  &c. 

George  Whitthcad.  "  No,  it  is  the  manner  of  requir- 
ing it,  1  mean ;  when  it  is  done  with  design  to  antici- 
pate the  appellant  and  prevent  the  trial  of  his  appeal. 

"  Secondly,  the  riots  and  abuses  that  are  committed 
upon  our  Friends  at  their  meetings,  by  tearing  women's 
scarfs,  beating,  throwing  persons  down,  &c.  which  are 
done  by  a  rude  company  that  are  encouraged  by  the 
constables  and  officers  who  should  keep  the  peace  :  so 
that  there  is  none  that  will  arrest  or  apprehend  the 
rioters,  that  we  know  of,  because  the  officers  take  their 
parts  and  animate  them  ;  and  the  rioters  and  abusive 
persons  can  readily  escape  in  the  crowd. 

"  The  third  reason ." 

King.     "  And  thirdly  ;  let  us  hear  the  third  reason." 

George  Whitehead.  "  The  third  reason  of  their  being 
disabled  is,  for  those  of  our  Friends  that  are  committed 
to  gaol ;  though  we  conceive  their  commitment  irregular, 
yet  if  they  should  enter  actions  of  false  imprisonment 
against  those  that  committed  them,  they  may  be  de- 
stroyed in  their  strait  and  close  confinement  before 
they  can  have  relief  by  a  course  of  law  that  way  ;  they 
being  so  severely  kept  under  hatches  by  their  adver- 
saries, if  they  should  enter  actions  of  false  imprisonment 
against  them,  that  might  be  an  occasion  to  them  to  re- 
venge themselves  the  more  severely  on  the  prisoners  in 
the  mean  time." 

One  in  council.  "  Seeing  the  conventicle  act  admits 
of  no  appeal  to  any  higher  court  than  to  the  same  court 
of  sessions  for  that  county,  why  do  you  appeal  or  make 
your  complaint  here?  what  would  you  have  the  king 
do  for  you  ?" 

George  Whitehead.  "  We  desire  the  king,  and  you 
of  his  council,  tenderly  to  consider  our  sullbring  case, 


G.    WniTEUEAD.  59 

and  how  far  the  king  may  reheve  us  from  those  irre- 
gular proceedings  that  shall  appear  contrary  to  law." 

Lord  Chancellor.  "  You  would  have  the  king  to 
relieve  you  from  the  law,  to  interpose  between  you  and 
the  law ;  which  he  cannot  do." 

George  IVkitehead.  "  No,  under  favour,  lord  chan- 
cellor, that  inference  follows  not  from  what  is  proposed 
on  our  par(s ;  we  desire  that  the  king  would  be  pleased 
to  interpose  between  us  and  the  destruction  that  attends 
us,  through  the  irregular  and  extreme  proceedings  of 
those  persons,  who  (whilst  they  pretend  to  put  the  king's 
laws  in  execution,  and  in  pursuance  of  an  order  from 
him)  exceed  all  the  severity  and  bounds  of  the  law : 
our  present  complaint  therefore  lies,  not  against  the  law 
or  execution  thereof  simply ;  but  against  the  mal-ad- 
ministration,  the  hard  usage,  and  exorbitant  proceed- 
ings we  met  with,  contrary  to  all  law  and  justice  as  we 
conceive." 

Lord  Chancellor.  "  Well,  we  have  heard  you ;  you 
may  withdraw." 

George  Whitehead.  *'  May  it  please  the  king  yet  to 
hear  me  a  little  farther,  that  the  king  and  you  his  minis- 
ters may  understand  how  probable  the  truth  of  our 
complaint  is  against  those  irregular  and  erroneous  pro- 
ceedings in  Bristol,  and  how  incident  the  justices  there 
are  to  commit  error  in  their  proceedings  against  our 
Friends  who  suffer  there  ;  please  to  take  one  instance, 
viz. 

"  The  most  of  their  warrants  of  commitment,  or  mit- 
timusses  whereby  our  Friends  are  committed  to  gaol, 
and  whereof  we  have  here  copies,  are  defective  and 
wanting  in  two  material  points,  as, 

"  First,  the  justices  do  not  therein  signify  their  law- 
ful authority,  as  being  the  king's  justices  of  the  peace 
before  whom  the  prisoners  were  brought.     And, 

"Secondly,  their  command  to  the  keeper  of  the 
gaol  for  safe  custody  of  the  prisoners,  is  not  given  in  the 
king's  majesty's  name,  but  in  their  own  private  names  ; 
except  that  there  is  one  named  major,  and  one  William 


60  MEMOIRS  OF 

Bristol ;  the  rest  are  only  in  their  private  or  personal 
names:  no  mention  made  in  their  mandamus  to  the 
keeper,  that  these  are  in  his  majesty's  name  to  will  and 
require  you,  &,c.  but  only  they  commit  them  in  their 
own  private  names.  This  we  conceive  is  irregular  and 
unwarrantable  in  law  ;  and  this  I  give  only  a?  one  in- 
stance, to  evince  the  probability  of  the  truth  of  our  com- 
plaint, and  that  those  justices  are  subject  to  err  in  their 
proceedings  in  omitting  such  material  points." 

Lord  Cliancellor.  "  Those  defects  are  exceptions 
pleadable,  and  they  may  be  heard  if  they  remove  them- 
selves by  habeas  corpus." 

L.  P.  S.  "  That  exception  of  yours  will  not  serve 
your  turn." 

Lord  Chancellor.  "  You  may  withdraw,  &c." 

George  Whitehead.  "  May  it  please  the  king  and  you 
his  ministers  to  observe  this  one  thing,  namely,  that  those 
officers  and  rude  persons  in  Bristol,  who  have  done  so 
much  violence  and  spoil  to  our  Friends,  pretend  power 
and  authority  from  the  king  for  such  their  proceedings; 
and  under  pretext  of  an  order  from  the  king  to  put  the 
laws  in  execution,  they  take  liberty  to  commit  all  their 
disorders  and  abuses  against  our  Friends,  because  of 
their  innocent  meetings. 

"  Which  being  seriously  considered,  I  hope  the  king 
will  see  cause  to  do  himself  justice,  and  likewise  you 
his  ministers  will  be  concerned  to  do  yourselves  as  well 
as  us  justice,  by  putting  some  stop  to  these  their  destruc- 
tive proceedings,  the  violence  and  spoil  they  make  un- 
der such  pretence  of  the  king's  order  and  authority  ; 
pray  let  it  be  duly  considered,  whether  or  no  thereby 
they  do  not  reflect  upon  the  king,  and  dishonour  him 
before  his  people,  whilst  they  render  him  the  patron  or 
mover  of  these  their  riotous  and  oppressive  proceedings 
against  the  king's  peaceable  subjects  ;  and  whether  or 
no  they  do  not  reflect  upon  you  his  ministers,  tending 
to  render  you  suspicious  in  the  eyes  of  the  people  ?  I 
hope,  on  serious  and  tender  consideration  of  these  things, 
you  will  see  cause  to  do  yourselves  and  us  justice. 


G.    WHITEHEAD.  61 

"  You  have  had  experience  of  us,  and  of  our  peace- 
able deportment  towards  the  king  and  government  for 
above  these  twenty  years ;  it  is  very  hard  we  should 
now  be  thus  severely  used  at  this  time  a  day  ! 

'*  We  have  here  a  more  large  and  particular  state  of 
our  suflfering  case,  which  we  desire  you  to  receive  and 
take  notice  of." 

Which  case  at  large,  being  very  fairly  written  in 
several  sheets  of  paper,  on  the  one  side  of  each  sheet; 
George  Whitehead  delivered  to  the  council  board,  in 
the  king's  presence ;  where  it  was  received  and  laid 
down  on  the  board,  before  the  lord  privy  seal  and  lord 
chancellor,  &c. 

At  last  George  Whitehead  thus  concluded,  viz. 

"  I  pray  God  preserve  the  king,  and  direct  you  his 
ministers,  to  do  justly,  and  love  mercy,  and  walk  hum- 
bly with  God." 

I  do  confess  I  was  under  a  very  weighty  concern  of 
spirit,  to  use  my  earnest  endeavours  in  solicitation,  in 
this  heavy  suffering  case  of  our  Bristol  Friends,  who 
then  were  sorely  oppressed  and  abused ;  for  it  was  a 
time  of  very  hot,  resolved  persecution  against  them. 

And  upon  a  thorough  inspection  into  their  case,  and 
viewing  the  copies  of  the  warrants  of  commitment 
against  the  prisoners,  together  with  the  accounts  of  the 
riotous,  shameful,  and  abusive  work  made  against  our 
Friends  at  their  meetings  in  that  city ;  1  clearly  per- 
ceived both  how  invidious,  inconsiderate,  and  ignorant 
of  law  and  justice  the  magistrates  of  that  city  were, 
who  were  then  most  busy  against  our  Friends  and  most 
ready  to  grant  warrants  against  them,  either  to  impri- 
son their  persons  or  seize  their  goods,  thereby  to  grati- 
fy mercenary  informers  and  the  worst  of  persecutors  ; 
to  the  great  dishonour  and  reproach  of  that  city,  which 
formerly  had  been  esteemed  a  place  having  more  of 
profession  and  religion  in  it  than  many  others. 

The  king  appearing  affected  with  the  innocency  and 
boldness  of  my  pleading  the  sufferers'  case,  allowed  me 
the  more  liberty  to  plead  it  against  the  persecutors ; 

VOL.  II.  T 


62  ME3I0IRS    OF 

and  not  only  so,  but  he  suffered  us  (Lawrence  Steel, 
Charles  Jones,  and  myself)  to  stand,  and  me  to  plead  be- 
fore him  and  his  council,  with  our  hats  on  our  heads  all 
the  time,  which  was  about  three  quarters  of  an  hour. 
And  indeed  the  king  had  the  more  reason  to  suffer  us 
in  that  posture,  seeing  he  would  not  permit  our  hats  to 
be  taken  off  by  the  clerk  of  the  council,  when  we  were 
called  in  before  him,  as  we  understood ;  being  minded 
to  give  himself  some  pleasant  diversion,  by  trying  us  in 
our  plainness  and  simplicity,  agreeable  to  our  profes- 
sion and  self-denying  testimony. 


In  the  years  1682  and  1683,  George  Whitehead  ap- 
pears to  have  been  four  times  convicted  under  the  Con- 
venticle Act.  In  one  of  these  cases,  of  which  he  has 
left  a  particular  account,  on  being  brought  before  the 
lord  mayor  for  having  preached  at  a  meeting,  this  of- 
ficer, instead  of  calling  for  his  accusers,  enquired  of  the 
prisoner  whether  he  did  not  preach  at  the  meeting. 
George  Whitehead  declined  accusing  himself;  and  on 
the  question  being  put  again  by  one  of  the  mayor's  offi- 
cers, he  again  declined ;  and  asked  for  his  accusers. 
At  length  two  persons  who  apprehended  him  were  call- 
ed to  give  evidence,  when  the  following  imperfect  tes- 
timony was  given  by  them. 

A  train-band-ofjicer.  "  I  saw  his  lips  go,  but  heard  him 
not  what  he  said." 

Constable.  "  1  heard  his  voice,  but  could  not  tell 
what  he  said  so  as  to  make  sense  of  it ;  only  I  heard 
him  mention  Jesus  Christ  and  the  Spirit." 

George  Whitehead  desired  the  lord  mayor  to  notice, 
how  far  the  testimony  fell  short  of  establishing  the 
fact,  which  was  constituted  an  offence  by  the  act ;  and 
expressed  a  hope,  that  none  would  allow  that  to  men- 
tion Jesus  Christ  or  the  Spirit,  was  contrary  to  the 
Liturgy  of  the  Church  of  England.  The  plea  of  the 
prisoner,  however  reasonable,  proved  unavailing;  he 
was  fined  twenty  pounds,  and  distraint  to  a  considera- 
ble amount  was  made  on  his  goods. 


G.    MniTEIIEA.O.  63 

On  a  subsequent  occasion  he  was  fined  forty  pounds; 
(it  being  the  second  conviction  before  the  same  magis- 
trate ;)  without  having  been  heard  in  his  own  defence 
or  summoned  to  appear  to  answer  the  charges  against 
him.  The  distraint  was  made  with  great  violence ; 
the  constable,  with  two  assistants,  breaking  open  the 
back  shop  door,  and  several  chamber  doors ;  seizing, 
says  the  narrative,  "  beds  and  bedding,  (not  leaving 
him  a  bed  to  lie  upon,)  all,  moderately  valued,  worth 
twenty-one  pounds  ten  shillings.  Then  they  seized 
linen,  with  a  scrutoire,  six  cane  bottomed  chairs  and 
others,  and  a  large  looking-glass,  value  five  pounds 
eighteen  shillings.  Then  they  seized  shop  goods,  cur- 
rants and  sugar,  value  five  pounds  twelve  shillings;  all 
moderately  valued  by  the  owners,  amounting  to  thirty- 
three  pounds.  Though  the  goods  so  seized  were  not 
suflfercd  to  be  inventoried,  weighed,  or  appraised  be- 
fore being  carried  away. 

"Two  of  George  AVhitehead's  friends,  to  wit,  John 
Edge  and  Joseph  Peckover,  fairly  endeavouring  but  to 
persuade  the  constables  to  more  moderation,  and  to  suf- 
fer an  inventory  of  the  goods  before  taken  away,  were 
apprehended  at  the  same  time,  and  for  no  other  cause  ; 
the  constable  swearing  a  riot  against  them,  they  were 
committed  to  Newgate,  and  there  continued  for  above 
ten  weeks,  to  their  own  and  their  families'  great  injury 
and  damage  :  the  said  Josepli  being  a  Norfolk  man,  was 
near  eighty  miles  from  home." 

George  Whitehead  thought  it  right  to  appeal  against 
the  conviction,  under  which  the  last  distraint  upon  him 
had  been  made  ;  and  he  obtained  a  reversal  of  the 
magistrate's  judgment.  He  could,  however,  obtain  the 
return  of  only  eleven  pounds,  that  being  the  amount 
which  had  been  paid  into  court  as  the  sum  made  of 
the  articles  distrained.  In  another  case,  wherein  he 
had  been  convicted  by  the  recorder  of  London,  he  pro- 
cured a  respite  of  judgment,  so  that  distraint  was  not 
made  ;  and  he  succeeded,  on  appeal,  in  establishing  the 
illegality  of  the  proceedings.    He  observes,  that  he  was 


64  MEMOIRS    OP 

the  more  willing  to  seek  justice,  in  these  cases,  by  ap- 
peal to  a  superior  court,  though  at  a  heavy  expense, 
for  the  sake  of  many  of  his  Fi'iends  under  similar  pro- 
secutions, through  the  agency  of  those  beasts  of  prey  the 
informers. 

George  Whitehead  made  a  pretty  copious  selection 
of  passages  from  the  Liturgy  of  the  Church  of  England, 
to  which  he  gave  publicity,  to  show  that  the  proceed- 
ings of  himself  and  his  friends  were  not  contrary  to  it ; 
especially  that  the  assembling  together  for  mutual  ex- 
hortation and  edification,  for  worshiping  God  in  spirit 
and  in  truth,  without  limitation  to  time  or  place,  and 
the  liberty  of  ministering  according  to  the  ability  re- 
ceived, were  recommended  in  several  passages  of  the 
Common  Prayer  Book. 


(  65  ) 


SECTION  XV. 

Sufferings  of  Friends  confined  in  Norwich,  and  endeavours  for  their 
release. — I'crsecution  very  severe. — G.  Whitehead  suffers  by  se- 
vere distraints  in  1683. — Sufferings  of  Friends  in  London,  and 
George  Whitehead  imprisoned  in  Newgate,  1684. 

The  sufferings  of  Friends  confined  in  prisons  still 
continued  to  be  very  grccit ;  and  in  few  places,  if  any, 
were  they  more  severe  than  in  the  city  of  Norwich ; 
where  a  considerable  number  of  honest  people  were 
closely  confined  in  a  low,  nasty  dungeon,  twenty  seven 
steps  below  the  guild-hall  of  the  city. 

George  Whitehead  has  given  the  following  account 
of  his  own  and  his  Friends  exertions  for  their  relief. 


On  the  22nd  day  of  the  12th  month,  1682-3,  a  state 
of  the  case  of  the  prisoners,  commonly  called  Quakers, 
in  Norwich,  Gloucester,  Bristol,  Yorkshire,  and  North- 
ampton, directed  to  the  king,  with  request  for  relief, 
was  delivered  into  the  hands  of  the  earl  of  Rochester, 
by  George  Whitehead,  with  desire  that  he  would  please 
to  show  it  to  the  king;  which  he  promised  he  would. 

The  23rd  George  Whitehead  again  spake  to  carl  of 
Rochester,  and  desired  him  to  show  the  said  case  both 
to  the  king  and  duke  ;  which  he  promised  he  would  do 
and  said : "  I  will  read  it  to  the  king  this  night." 
George  Whitehead  told  him,  that  we  arc  advised  to 
deliver  Norwich  case  singly  by  itself,  to  the  council  ; 
which  we  intend  to  do  this  day. 

Accordingly  the  same  being  the  day  the  judges  ap- 
peared at  council  before  they  went  their  circuits, 
George  AVhitehcad  and  Gilbert  Latcy  then  attending, 
the  case  of  Norwich  suflfering  Friends  was  delivered  at 
the  council  board  by  Sir  Philip  Lloyd,  who  was  preen- 

F  2 


66  MEMOIRS    OF 

gaged  to  present  it  and  to  move  the  reading  of  it,  which 
accordingly  he  did ;  but  was  obstructed  the  reading  by 
some  in  council,  on  pretence  that  it  was  not  a  formal 
petition,  or  not  in  the  usual  form. 

The  24th  of  the  twelfth  month,  1682-3,  George 
Whitehead  and  Gilbert  Latey  went  to  the  lord  privy 
seal,  and  spake  to  him  about  the  said  case  of  Norwich 
prisoners.  He  told  us  :  That  notwithstanding  the  ob- 
jection made  in  the  council,  the  king  recommended 
moderation  to  the  judges  when  they  were  below,  and 
enquiry  into  the  state  of  the  prisoners  and  their  usage. 
This  he  told  us  twice  over. 

A  little  after  George  Whitehead  and  Gilbert  Latey 
had  spoken  to  the  lord  privy  seal,  they  went  up  into  the 
gallery  to  speak  with  the  king,  at  his  coming  out  of 
the  park  :  where,  after  some  time  of  waiting,  the  duke 
and  his  attendants  passed  by  to  meet  the  king ;  and 
after  a  little  space,  the  king  and  his  attendants  came 
along  the  long  gallery  towards  his  lodgings.  George 
Whitehead  then  stepped  up  to  the  king  without  any 
interruption,  the  whole  company  being  civil,  and  thus 
proceeded : 

"  May  it  please  the  king  to  grant  us  the  favour  of  a 
few  words  ;  it  is  in  behalf  of  many  of  the  king's  peace- 
able subjects  who  are  prisoners  at  Norwich,  and  there 
like  to  be  buried  alive  in  holes  and  dungeons." 

Kin^.  "  Can  they  not  swear  themselves  out  of 
prison  ?" 

George  Whitehead.  "  Under  favour,  such  are  not  in 
Society  with  us.  We  entreat  the  king  to  commisserate 
this  distressed  case  of  the  prisoners  in  Norwich,  for  they 
are  burying  them  alive  in  a  dungeon  under  ground." 

King.  "  Have  you  a  paper  ?  K  you  have  a  paper 
of  their  case,  1  will  take  it." 

George  Whitehead.  "  Yes,  here  is  a  paper  ;"  which 
he  delivered  into  the  king's  hand,  and  he  gently  took  it. 

George  Whitehead  proceeded :  "  They  are  a  poor 
harmless  people,  poor  woolcombers,  weavers,  and 
tradesmen,  &.c.  likely  to  be  destroyed  in  prison,  in  holes 


G.  wihtehead.  67 

under  ground  ;  we  entreat  the  king  not  to  suffer  these 
his  peaceable  subjects  to  be  buried  alive." 

With  more  discourse  which  the  said  George  White- 
head then  had  with  the  king ;  and  1  perceived  these 
last  words  took  most  hold  upon  him,  viz.  my  entreat- 
ing him  not  to  suffer  his  peaceable  subjects  to  be 
buried  alive. 

Gilbert  Latcy  then  stepped  to  the  king,  saying,  "  We 
are  the  king's  subjects  that  never  did  any  thing  against 
him ;  we  have  been  peaceable,  and  we  can  truly  say, 
have  served  him  and  never  were  against  him;  yet  our 
Friends  are  great  sulferers,  and  they  lie  in  a  dungeon 
twenty-seven  steps  deep  in  the  ground  in  Norwich: 
wherefore  we  have  the  more  earnestly  sought  their 
relief." 

My  friend  Gill)ert  Latey,  as  well  as  myself,  being 
often  tenderly  affected  with  our  Friends'  deep  suffer- 
ings and  hardships,  spake  to  the  king  in  very  tender 
affection,  and  a  sense  of  the  Lord's  power  and  holy 
fear ;  which  reached  the  king's  heart  and  conscience, 
and  others  about  him,  bevond  his  utterance  or  what  he 
could  in  words  demonstrate.  G.  L.  being  also  freely 
resigned  to  accompany  me,  and,  according  to  his  ability, 
to  assist  in  those  exercises  and  applications  in  the  suf- 
ferers' behalf;  and  we  were  often  comforted  together, 
and  assisted  in  our  endeavours  by  the  power  of  the 
Lord,  which  we  had  special  and  very  tender  regard 
unto ;  and  He  thereby  helped  and  strengthened  us,  to 
his  praise  and  our  great  comfort  and  encouragement : 
glory  to  his  excellent  name  and  power  for  ever ! 

After  I  had  earnestly  moved  the  king  for  relief  of 
our  suffering  Friends  in  Norwich,  he  gave  some  instruc- 
tions about  the  prisoners  to  the  judges,  who  were  to  go 
the  Norfolk  circuit  next  following.  Accordingly  at 
Norwich,  judge  Hugh  Windham  gave  order  that  the 
prisons  or  rooms  therein  should  he  viewed,  where  the 
Quakers  were  confmcd,  and  affidavits  to  be  made  there- 
of before  a  master  in  chancery  ;  which  accordingly  was 
done  by  an  attorney,  and  the  affidavits  were  sent  up  to 


68  MLJIOIRS    OP 

me ;  containing  a  true  account  of  matter  of  fact,  re- 
lating to  the  places  where  our  Friends  were  so  miser- 
ably confined. 

Whereupon  our  Friend  William  Crouch  went  with 
me  to  the  said  judge  \Vindham,  to  deliver  the  affidavits 
to  him ;  esteeming  him  the  most  proper  person  to  take 
cognizance  thereof,  it  being  obtained  pursuant  to  his 
order  or  advice  at  the  assizes  before  ;  that  he  might 
acquaint  the  king  therewith.  But  instead  of  so  doing, 
or  of  showing  compassion  to  the  sulfcrers,  he  refused  to 
receive  or  accept  the  affidavits  which  he  himself  had 
ordered  ;  only  he  did  a  little  look  upon  and  read  them, 
or  part  of  them,  and  fell  to  reproaching  the  meetings  of 
our  Friends,  as  being  riots  and  riotous,  &.c. ;  when  they 
were  forcibly  kept  out  of  their  meeting-house  and  met 
peaceably  in  the  street,  and  there  stood  quietly  waiting 
upon  the  Lord,  in  a  peaceable  and  inoffensive  posture. 
For  so  our  Friends  at  Norwich  and  other  places  did,  as 
I  told  the  judge  ;  and  that  therefore  such  their  peace- 
able meetings  could  be  no  riots,  nor  riotous  meetings, 
there  neither  being  any  show  of  arms,  nor  menacing 
words,  nor  any  violence  offered,  nor  any  injury  done  to 
the  persons  or  properties  of  any  others. 

Upon  which  discourse  the  judge  seemed  offended ; 
and  standing  up  with  his  arms  akimbo,  and  his  hands 
on  his  sides,  answered  :  "  You'll  know  the  law  better 
than  I,  I  warrant  )'ou;  but  1  will  have  you  know,  you 
shall  not  be  masters  over  the  law,  but  the  law  shall  be 
master  over  you,  so  long  as  I  live  or  have  to  do  with 
the  law,"  &c. 

I  answered :  "  1  will  not  compare  with  thee  as  to 
knowledge  and  learning  in  the  law  ;  thou  hast  had  the 
advantage  of  education  therein,  which  I  have  not  had  ; 
yet  nevertheless,  1  have  had  occasion  in  my  time,  to 
understand  something  of  truth  and  justice,  6cc.  having 
been  a  sufferer  myself,  on  a  conscientious  account, 
under  the  several  governments  since  we  were  a  peo- 
ple, both  in  Oliver  Cromwell's  days  and  since ;  and 
in  all  my  sufferings  and  trials,  I  never  saw  cause  to 


G.    WHITEHEAD.  69 

change  my  judgment,  or  turn  with  the  times  ;  but  ra 
ther,  through  all,  to  be  the  more  confirmed  in  what  1 
believe  and  profess  respecting  religion." 

I  also  spake  further  and  closely  to  him,  how  that  he 
had  had  an  opportunity  and  power  to  have  done  our 
suffering  Friends  in  Norwich  some  kindness,  in  order  to 
their  relief;  and  withal  told  him,  that  he  and  I,  and 
all  men,  must  give  account  to  the  Great  Judge  of  all, 
for  all  our  actions,  and  he  for  not  relieving  our  poor 
suffering  Friends  ;  or  to  that  purpose.  And  seeing  he 
would  not  accept  the  affidavits  before  mentioned,  so  as 
to  deliver  the  same  to  the  king,  I  asked  him  :  "  What 
we  should  do  with  them  ?"  He  said  ;  "  You  may  carry 
them  to  my  lord  keeper,"  that  is.  North ;  which  advice, 
though  slightly  given,  1  readily  took  hold  of:  having 
cleared  my  conscience  to  him  the  said  judge,  who  at 
last  carried  himself  more  mildly  towards  us,  than  he 
did  in  the  former  part  of  our  discourse. 

The  next  day  William  Crouch  and  I  went  to  the  said 
lord  keeper,  at  his  house ;  and  being  admitted  to  him 
in  his  closet,  I  told  him,  by  judge  Windham's  advice 
we  were  come  to  him  with  certain  affidavits  from  Nor- 
wich, which  the  judge  had  given  order  for,  concerning 
the  confinement  of  our  Friends  who  were  detained  close 
prisoners;  and  then  delivered  the  affidavits  to  him. 
Whereupon  he  began  to  accuse  our  Friends'  meetings 
with  being  riotous,  much  after  the  same  manner  judge 
Windham  had  done.  I  fairly  reasoned  the  case  with 
him  a  little  while  on  our  Friends'  behalf,  and  after  some 
discourse  told  him,  that  we  hoped  he  would  present 
those  affidavits  to  the  king,  procured  by  judge  Wind- 
ham's order  pursuant  to  the  king's  instructions.  Where- 
upon the  keeper  promised  he  would  deliver  them  ;  upon 
which  1  was  eased  in  my  spirit,  for  that  the  king  might 
thereby  see  our  Friends'  hard  usage  in  the  gaol  and 
dungeon  in  Norwich  the  more  confirmed,  by  such  a 
legal  proof  as  ho  could  not  deny.  Not  doubting  the 
keeper's  performance  of  his  promise,  we  left  the  case 
with  him  and  withdrew. 


70  MEMOIRS    OF 

Our  labour  and  solicitation  for  our  oppressed  Friends 
at  Norwich  held  a  considerable  time,  and  their  suffer- 
ing was  the  more  prolonged  by  their  persecutor  Steb- 
bings,  of  whose  cruelty  their  chief  complaints  were  ;  to 
excuse  and  palliate  which,  his  endeavours  were  to  ren- 
der the  sufferers  criminal  and  as  obnoxious  as  he  could, 
aspersing  them  as  obstinate,  riotous,  etc.  thereby  to 
incense  the  magistrates  and  government  against  them  ; 
which  gave  us  occasion  to  be  the  more  zealously  con- 
cerned to  discover,  to  his  and  our  superiors,  his  unwar- 
rantable and  inhuman  proceedings  against  the  poor, 
harmless  sufferers  ;  and  farther  to  make  application  to 
the  king  in  the  sufferers'  behalf:  wherein  my  ancient 
friend  Gilbert  Latey  was  willing  and  free  to  be  con- 
cerned with  me  ;  and  accordingly  we  took  an  opportu- 
nity to  go  to  the  king. 

On  the  25th  of  the  second  month,  1683,  we  took 
boat  for  Kingston ;  but  the  weather  began  to  be  so  very 
stormy  and  tempestuous  upon  the  river,  that  we  were 
forced  to  take  in  at  Wandsworth,  and  lodge  there  that 
night  at  the  widow  Springets.  Next  morning  we  arose 
by  the  time  it  was  well  light,  and  walked  to  Kingston ; 
it  raining  almost  all  the  way.  We  made  some  stop  at 
Ann  Fielders,  at  Kingston,  till  we  had  a  little  refreshed 
ourselves,  and  dried  our  clothes  ;  and  then  we  hastened 
away  to  Hampton-court,  to  meet  with  the  king  before 
he  went  to  council. 

As  we  went  along  the  park  toward  the  court,  saw  at 
a  distance  divers  persons  standing  in  the  porch,  looking 
towards  us ;  and  one  above  the  rest  1  observed,  who  I 
believ^ed  was  the  king,  by  his  blue  ribband  and  black 
cap.  And  not  being  willing  to  go  abruptly  into  his  pre- 
sence, to  open  our  case  to  him  without  his  leave,  at  a 
little  distance  I  called  to  the  king,  desiring  him  to  fa- 
vour us  with  a  few  words;  which  he  presently  grant- 
ing, one  of  his  gentlemen  came  to  us,  and  gently  took 
off  our  hats  and  hung  tliem  on  the  pales  before  the 
court ;  and  then  we  went  to  the  king,  who  was  ready 
to  hear  us, 


G.    WHITEHEAD.  71 

Divers  great  persons  being  present  at  the  gate,  I  pro- 
ceeded to  open  our  case  to  him,  concerning  the  continu- 
ance of  the  hard  suflering  of  our  Friends  in  Norwich, 
in  manner  following. 

First,  I  reminded  the  king,  that  our  poor  Friends 
were  still  continued  under  great  hardships,  in  gaol,  in 
holes,  and  a  dungeon  under  ground,  and  desired  that  the 
king,  in  his  clemency,  Vvould  please  to  relieve  them  ; 
further  opening  their  distressed  case. 

The  king  answered  ;  "  It  is  against  law  they  suffer 
so,  and  1  wiU  take  care  concerning  them." 

I  was  truly  glad  when  I  heard  him  give  this  answer ; 
believing  that  the  complaints  which  had  been  made  to 
him  of  our  Friends,  hard  usage,  and  the  affidavits  of 
others  thereof,  had  such  credit  and  weight  with  him, 
that  I  hoped  he  would  cause  them  to  be  released. 

The  king  questioned  us  about  the  reason  of  our  not 
putting  otFour  hats,  and  using  the  terms  thee  and  thou 
yea  and  nay.  To  which  we  gave  him  answer  particu- 
larly, viz.  that  if  we  could  put  off  our  hats  to  any  mor- 
tal, it  should  be  to  the  king  first ;  but  for  conscience' 
sake  w^e  could  not  to  any  mortal,  but  only  in  our  ap- 
proaching God  in  prayer.  To  which  the  king  gave  no 
particular  reply. 

George  Whitehead.  "  Thou  and  thee  to  one  person  is 
Scripture  language,  and  the  true  way  of  speaking." 

Gilbert  Latey.  "  As  Paul  did  to  king  Agrippa,  .'icts 
xxvi.  2,  viz.  '  I  think  myself  happy,  O  king  Agrippa, 
because  I  shall  answer  for  myself  this  day  before  thee, 
touching  all  the  things  whereof  I  am  accused  of  the 
Jews;  especially  because  1  know  thee  to  be  expert  in 
all  customs  and  questions  which  arc  among  the  Jews.' " 
&c. 

George  Whitehead.  "Concerning  yea  and  nay,  we 
are  not  strictly  tied  to  the  expressions,  but  sometimes 
use  those  of  the  same  signification  ;  as  yes  and  no,"  &c 

A  great  person  present  asked  us :  "  Why  do  you 
call  him  king  ?  Why  do  you  not  call  him  his  majesty  ?" 

George  Whitehead.  "  As  he  is  king  he  has  majesty 


72  MEMOIRS  or 

belonging  to  him,  it  is  included ;  his  majesty  is  his  great- 
ness and  power." 

King.  "  You  should  not  stand  upon  things  in  affecta- 
tion ;  the  word  you  is  now  become  usual  in  English  ; 
and  the  word  yeah  is  used  by  seamen,  when  they  call 
from  the  top  of  the  mast  to  be  heard  upon  deck  ;  it  is 
also  a  Dutch  word,  who  express  it  yah." 

George  Whitehead.  "  We  affect  not  singularity  in 
words  or  behaviour,  but  desire  to  demean  ourselves  in 
that  plainness  and  simplicity,  which  we  are  in  conscience 
persuaded  unto." 

King.  "■  The  words  thee  and  thou,  might  have  been 
better  translated  out  of  the  Greek,  you,"  &c. 

George  Whitehead.  "  If  so,  then  the  translators  were 
as  simple  as  we  the  Quakers." 

Kiyig.  "  Many  of  your  Friends  can  swear,  or  take  an 
oath,  rather  than  lose  their  voices  in  election." 

George  Whitehead.  "  Though  some  few  persons  have 
sworn,  who  have  sometimes  gone  under  a  profession, 
yet  they  are  not  in  society  with  us." 

Gilbert  Latey.  "  We  are  as  much  dissatisfied  with 
such  as  have  done  so,  as  the  king  can  be. 

George  Whitehead.  "  We  desire  nothing  to  be  done 
to  the  prejudice  or  dishonour  of  the  king,  nor  to  join 
with  or  promote  any  interest  against  the  king.  The 
Lord  knows  our  hearts ;  we  have  not  the  least  design 
or  desire,  for  the  subversion  or  change  of  the  govern- 
ment ;  nor  can  we  reasonably  be  supposed  to  have  any 
such  design,  seeing  we  were  deep  sufferers  in  Crom- 
weirs  time,  as  I  myself  was :  therefore  there  is  no  rea- 
son we  should  seek  to  promote  any  interest  against  the 
king,  but  only  desire,  that  God  in  his  wisdom  may  direct 
and  preserve  the  king,  and  that  nothing  may  be  done 
or  suffered,  that  may  be  to  the  king's  dishonour  or 
hurt." 

Gilbert  Latey.  "  We  would  not  lose  our  point  that  we 
came  to  the  king  for  ;  that  is,  the  case  of  our  distress- 
ed Friends  in  Norwich,  to  whom  we  desire  the  king  to 
show  his  princely  clemency  for  their  relief." 


G.    WHITEHEAD.  73 

Although  it  was  my  friend's  care  we  should  not  be 
diverted  I'rom  our  point  by  other  discourse,  I  was  as 
mindful  of  that  as  he  could  be  ;  but  by  the  way,  1  was 
willing  to  clear  our  innocency  from  jealousies  and  pre- 
judice, wrongfully  suggested  to  the  king  against  us  and 
our  Friends. 

In  answer  to  Gilbert  Latey. 

King.  "  1  will  take  notice  of  their  case,  and  care 
about  it,  that  it  shall  be  called  for  in  council." 

George  Whitehead,  "If  there  be  any  objection  against 
us,  we  pray  the  king  to  let  us  know  them,  and  we  hope 
to  give  such  answers  as  shall  be  satisfactory." 

The  reason  of  this  proposal  by  George  Whitehead 
was,  that  we  were  informed  the  secretary.  Sir  L. 
Jenkins,  intended  to  produce  an  apology  from  the 
sheritfi  of  Norwich,  against  the  affidavits  concern- 
ing the  gaol  and  dungeon  wherein  our  Friends  were 
confined ;  whereupon  we  attended  the  council  that 
day,  in  order  to  be  called  in  before  them,  or  to  hear  the 
result  thereof,  in  our  case  respecting  our  said  suffering 
Friends  ;  but  we  were  not  called  in,  nor  did  we  hear  of 
any  such  apology  produced  by  the  secretary,  though 
he  was  a  favourer  of  our  adversary,  sheriff  Stebbings. 
It  may  be  supposed,  that  the  king's  favourable  answers 
to  us,  and  his  confessing  their  suffering  was  against  law, 
and  pronrusing  to  take  care  concerning  them,  might 
anticipate  and  prevent  producing  any  apology  against 
them  or  their  case. 

To  George  Whitehead's  last  proposal  before. 

King.  "  You  shall  know,  I  will  take  care  about  your 
business." 

George  Whitehead.  "  We  gave  affidavits  to  the  lord 
keeper,  which  we  hope  were  delivered  to  the  king." 

King.  "  Yes,  yes  ;  I  will  take  notice  of  their  case,  and 
it  shall  be  called  on  in  council." 

Gilbert  Latey.  "  We  accept  it  as  a  great  favour,  that 
we  have  this  admittance  to  be  heard,  and  pray  God  to 
preserve  and  direct  the  king,"  &.c. 

George  Whitehead  to  the  rest  of  the  nobility  pres- 

VOL.  ix.  a 


74  MEMOIRS  or 

ent :  "  We  acknowledge  all  your  civilities  and  kindness 
towards  us." 

George  IVhitehead  to  the  king  as  he  was  withdraw- 
ing :  "  Wc  hope  the  king  will  be  mindful  of  our  sutFer- 
ing  Friends  in  Norwich." 

Howbeit,  after  so  great  endeavours  and  long  solicita- 
tion, our  said  suffering  Friends  were  continued  prisoners 
until  the  next  assizes  that  summer,  and  then  were  re- 
leased ;  pursuant  to  the  king's  promise  and  instruction, 
as  it  was  concluded  ;  to  the  great  comfort  and  relief  of 
them  and  their  afflicted  families. 

Although  with  God's  assistance,  we  prevailed  with 
the  king  for  relief  in  certain  extreme  cases  of  suflTering, 
through  great  labour  and  solicitation,  wherein  I  was 
much  concerned,  in  great  compassion  toward  our  sorely 
oppressed  Friends ;  yet  hitherto  there  remained  great 
oppressions  and  sufferings  throughout  most  counties 
and  cities  in  England,  by  divers  kinds  and  sorts  of  se- 
vere prosecutions  ;  insomuch  that  several  of  us,  namely 
George  Fox,  Gilbert  Latey,  Alexander  Parker,  Francis 
Camheld,  and  myself,  were  weightily  concerned  to  have 
a  general  state  of  our  sutlering  Friend's  case  drawn  up, 
by  way  of  address  or  application,  to  be  presented  to 
the  king ;  in  order  to  make  him  the  more  sensible  of  the 
great  oppressions  we  still  were  exposed  to.  And  ac- 
cordingly, I  did  then  take  particular  care,  to  have  such 
an  application  effectually  drawn  to  Friends'  satisfac- 
tion. 

First,  the  intent  whereof  was,  to  clear  our  innocen- 
cy  from  a  plot,  that  was  reported  to  have  been  against 
the  king  and  the  duke  of  York. 

Secondly,  to  make  the  king  sensible  of  our  great  and 
long  continued,  as  well  as  extreme  sufTerings,  for  our 
reUgious  tender  conscience  towards  Almighty  God. 
Thirdly,  earnestly  to  move  the  king  for  our  relief. 

This  address  to  the  king  was  headed  :  "  The  hum- 
ble address  of  the  people  commonly  called  Quakers." 
After  denying  any  connexion  with  the  plots  which  had 


G.    WHITEHEAD.  75 

been  unjustly  attributed  to  them,  they  declared  their 
sense  of  the  duty  of  obedience  to  magistrates,  in  all 
things  not  contrary  to  conscience ;  and  that,  when  for 
conscience'  sake  they  could  not  obey,  their  principle 
and  practice  was  to  suffer  patiently,  and  not  to  rebel 
or  seek  revenge.  It  concluded  with  the  following  ap- 
peal to  the  justice  and  humanity  of  the  king. 

"  Our  prayers  and  supplications  are  to  the  Almighty, 
for  thy  future  safety  and  peace ;  and  that  in  a  thankful 
remembrance  of  God's  great  mercies  towards  thee,  thou 
mayst  be  thereby  obliged  to  show  mercy,  and  to  relieve 
the  oppressed  from  these  unmerited  aMictions  and  per- 
secutions, which  a  great  number  of  us  thy  peaceable 
subjects  do  even  at  this  day  suffer  under,  in  our  persons 
and  estates ;  not  only  by  laws  made  against,  but  also 
by  laws  never  intended  against  us.  And  which  is  more 
extreme,  divers  severities  of  late  have  been  and  still 
are  inflicted  ;  for  which  no  colour  or  pretence  of  law 
hath  been  or  can  be  alleged ;  several  gaols  being  so 
filled  as  that  they  want  air,  and  many  innocent  persons 
are  held  under  extreme  distress,  without  regard  to  age, 
sex,  or  condition  ;  to  the  loss  of  some  lives  already,  and 
apparent  hazard  of  many  more ;  if  not  to  the  endan- 
gering infection  in  divers  cities  and  places  in  this  na- 
tion. And  many  houses,  shops,  barns,  and  fields  are 
ransacked,  and  swept  of  goods,  corn,  and  cattle ;  tend- 
ing also  to  the  great  discouragement  of  trade  and  hus- 
bandry, and  to  the  impoverishing  of  a  great  number  of 
quiet  and  industrious  people ;  and  that  for  no  other 
cause  but  for  their  religious  worship,  and  the  exercise 
of  their  tender  consciences  towards  Almighty  God  that 
made  them,  who  is  the  sovereign  Lord  of  all,  and  king 
in  men's  consciences. 

"  Therefore  we  humbly  intreat  thee,  O  king,  in 
princely  justice.  Christian  charity  and  compassion,  to 
open  our  prison  doors  and  take  off  our  bonds;  relieve 
the  innocent  and  oppressed  in  thy  land,  that  fear  God 
and  in  conversation  truly  honour  the  king ;  and  suffer 
not  the  ruin  of  such  as  are  quiet  in  the  land,  nor  the 


76  MEMOIRS    OF 

widow  and  the  fatherless,  for  their  peaceable  con- 
sciences, to  lie  at  the  door  of  a  prince  professing  the 
tender  and  compassionate  religion  of  Christ." 

This  address  was  presented  to  king  Charles  the 
Second,  at  Windor  castle,  the  8th  day  of  the  6th  month, 
called  August,  1G83,  by  George  Whitehead,  Alexander 
Parker,  Gilbert  Latey,  and  Francis  Camiield,  and  read 
distinctly  to  the  king  and  the  duke,  in  the  presence  of 
many  more  of  the  nobility,  &,c.  by  me. 

After  I  had  read  it,  our  ancient  Friend  Francis  Cam- 
field,  declared  a  few  words  very  weightily ;  reminding 
him  of  the  mercy  of  the  Great  God  to  him,  both  in  his 
great  deliverances,  preservation,  and  restoration  ;  de- 
siring that  as  the  Almighty  had  shown  mercy  and  com- 
passion to  him,  in  his  alllictions  and  straits,  he  would 
show  or  extend  mercy  and  compassion  to  his  afflicted 
people ;  and  withal  prayed  for  the  king,  according  to 
our  supplications  hinted  in  the  foregoing  application : 
to  which  he  said  :  "  I  thank  you." 

The  king  at  that  time  appeared  seriously  affected 
with  our  complaint :  and  soon  after  we  were  told  by  a 
great  person,  that  he  said  to  a  duke  that  stood  by : 
"  What  shall  we  do  for  this  people  ?  the  prisons  are  fill- 
ed with  them."  And  that  the  duke,  to  divert  him  from 
his  concern  therein,  drew  him  into  other  discourse. 

I  have  been  bowed  in  spirit  under  a  great  weight 
and  concern,  with  earnest  breathing  and  secret  suppli- 
cation to  the  Lord  to  assist  me,  so  often  as  I  have  had 
occasion  personally  to  appear  before  the  king,  to  make 
application  to  him  on  behalf  of  my  suffering  Friends 
and  brethren ;  and  my  exercise  was  the  greater,  when 
it  was  difficult  to  obtain  access  or  to  meet  with  him ; 
which  I  have  divers  times  very  earnestly  laboured  for, 
and  also  to  be  admitted  to  appear  before  him  and  his 
council,  to  plead  their  cause.  And  the  Lord  our  God 
has  made  way  for  me  therein,  and  by  his  power  assist- 
ed me,  in  freely  and  boldly  pleading  the  cause  of  the 
innocent  for  truth  and  justice,  without  being  any  ways 
timorous  or  daunted  by  the  face  of  the  king,  princes,  or 


G.    WHITEHEAD.  77 

nobles ;  and  in  these  services,  when  the  Lord  has  help- 
ed me  through  them,  I  have  felt  great  peace  and  com- 
fort, and  his  presence  was  with  me,  enabling  me  to 
speak  pertinently,  and  influencing  them  to  hear  atten- 
tively :  praised  be  the  Lord  my  God  ! 

But  though  a  little  relief  was  obtained,  in  particular 
instances,  by  these  applications  to  the  king ;  he  was 
too  much  addicted  to  pleasure  to  act  firmly  or  constant- 
ly, in  regard  to  what  he  professed  to  wish  ;  and  his  pro- 
fession of  tolerant  principles  being  attributed  to  a  desire 
to  screen  popery,  his  apparent  disposition  to  ^:he  tolera- 
tion of  dissenters,  excited  a  hostile  feeling  on  the  part 
of  many  persons,  and  probably  retarded  the  course  of 
public  opinion  in  favour  of  religious  liberty ;  nor  was 
this  feeling  likely  to  be  diminished  by  the  apprehen- 
sion, that  the  king  was  anxious  to  extend  the  preroga- 
tive of  the  crown,  and  that  he  had  actually  done  so  by 
the  suspension  of  the  laws  which  particularly  affected 
the  Quakers.  Whatever  might  be  the  cause,  certain 
it  is,  that  the  sufferings  of  Friends  had  never  been  more 
extensive,  nor  perhaps  more  severe,  than  in  the  two 
last  years  of  the  life  of  this  thoughtless  and  voluptuous 
monarch. 

George  Whitehead  gives  the  following  description  of 
the  state  of  the  Society  at  that  time. 

Being  shut  out  of  our  meeting-houses  for  divers  years, 
in  and  about  the  cities  of  London  and  Westminster,  and 
our  meetings  kept  in  the  streets  in  all  sorts  of  weather, 
winter  and  summer,  was  a  trial  and  hardship  upon  us. 
But  that  trial  was  not  so  great,  as  to  have  our  estates 
and  livelihoods  exposed  to  ruin  by  ravenous  informers ; 
although  it  was  no  small  hardship  to  our  persons,  to  be 
kept  out  of  doors  in  the  streets,  in  the  great  severe  and 
long  frost  and  snow,  in  the  year  1683,  for  about  three 
months  together,  when  the  river  Thames  was  so  frozen 
up,  that  horses,  coaches,  and  carts,  could  pass  to  and 

G  2 


78  MEMOIRS  OF 

fro  upon  it,  and  a  street  also  be  erected  and  stand  over 
it. 

And  yet  in  all  that  hard  season,  when  we  were  so 
long  kept  out  in  the  streets  in  the  hitter  cold  air,  1  do 
not  remember  that  1  got  any  harm  or  injury  thereby, 
although  I  frequently  attended  those  our  meetings  in 
the  streets  ;  wherein  I  took  great  and  serious  notice  of 
the  merciful  Providence  of  Almighty  God,  towards  my- 
self and  many  more  of  our  Friends,  who  were  sharers 
in  the  same  mercy  and  preservation  in  that  suffering 
and  exercise ;  no  thanks  to  our  unmerciful  persecutors  : 
but  to  our  Heavenly  Father  be  the  glory  and  praise  for 
ever ! 

We  had  in  those  days  some  opportunities  to  publish 
the  Truth  openly  in  the  streets,  and  also  to  make  public 
supplication  to  God  ;  but  more  frequently  were  not  per- 
mitted, but  pulled  away  by  force,  and  either  sent  to 
prison  or  turned  into  the  meeting-house,  and  there  de- 
tained under  guard  until  the  meeting  was  ended  in  the 
street.  Thus  were  the  ministers  and  others  among  us 
often  forcibly  interrupted,  and  scarcely  suffered,  many 
times,  to  declare  two  or  three  sentences,  without  being 
haled  away ;  however,  we  saw  it  our  duty,  in  the  fear 
of  the  Living  God,  to  keep  our  meetings,  and  patiently 
to  wait  upon  II im  ;  wherein  we  often  enjoyed  his  pre- 
sence to  our  consolation,  even  in  our  silent  waiting  upon 
Him  :  being  not  called  to  strive  or  contest  with  our  ad- 
versaries, or  their  servants  whom  they  emj)loyed,  but 
in  faith  and  patience  to  bear  all ;  believing  that  in  due 
time  thereby  we  should  obtain  victory.  It  was  often 
then  before  me,  that  the  Lamb  and  his  faithful  followers 
should  have  the  victory,  which  was  matter  of  secret 
comfort  to  me  many  times:  glory  to  his  name  for  ever  ! 

In  those  days  I  clearly  saw,  that  the  testimony  re- 
quired of  us  to  bear,  was  not  so  much  in  words,  decla- 
ration, or  ministry,  as  to  stand  our  ground  in  faith  and 
patience,  and  to  travail  in  spirit,  with  secret  breathing 
and  earnest  supplication  unto  God  to  plead  our  cause ; 
it  being  his  own  cause  for  which  we  suffered :  and 


G.    WHITEHEAD.  79 

therefore  we  patiently  committed  it  to  Him  that  judgeth 
righteously. 

In  the  year  before  the  king's  decease,  I  and  divers 
other  Friends  were  still  desirous  he  should  be  made 
sensible  what  great  suflferings  were  still  continued  upon 
our  Friends,  both  by  imprisonment  and  spoil ;  and  our 
Friend  William  Mead  and  others  of  us,  being  concern- 
ed the  king  should  be  at  least  acquainted  and  moved 
thereupon,  the  same  was  done  ;  and  by  the  king's  au- 
thority, direction  given  to  the  sherifTs  of  the  counties 
respectively,  throughout  England,  to  return  the  names 
and  causes  of  our  Friends  then  prisoners ;  an  account 
whereof  was  given  to  the  king,  by  way  of  petition  and 
information :  a  general  memorandum  whereof  follows. 

The  15th  of  "the  11th  month,  1683,  George  White- 
head and  A.  Parker  attended  the  king,  to  present  the 
general  suffering  of  our  Friends,  both  in  prison  and  out 
of  prison,  by  way  of  petition.  In  the  afternoon  we  met 
with  the  king  in  the  long  gallery,  and  presented  the 
petition;  which  he  received,  and  George  Whitehead 
spake  a  few  words  to  him  on  this  wise : 

"  We  in  treat  the  king  to  excuse  our  importunity,  for 
our  extremity  is  the  cause  ;  we  pray  the  king  tenderly 
to  consider  our  suffering  condition  and  atford  us  relief, 
accounts  being  returned  from  the  sheritrs  of  our  Friends 
in  prison,"  &c. 

To  which  he  answered  :  "  Well,  well,  well." 

And  perceiving  the  king  then  in  some  haste,  George 
WHiitehead  told  him :  "  It  he  pleased,  we  would  ac- 
quaint the  Lord  Simderland  (being  secretary  of  state) 
more  fully  with  our  case,  that  he  might  inform  the  king 
thereof,"'  &c. 

To  which  the  king  answered  :  "  Do,  do." 

But  alas  !  the  king's  time  was  but  short ;  he  was  then 
near  his  end,  and  did  not  live  to  relieve  us,  either  by 
opening  the  prison  doors  or  removing  the  great  oppres- 
sions and  severe  persecutions  we  then  suffered,  and 
which  he  left  us  under  ;  his  opportunity  being  slipped 
and  day  over  and  gone. 


so  MEMOIRS    OF 

I  think  I  was  the  last  Friend  that  spake  to  the  king, 
to  move  him  for  rcHcf  from  our  suflcrings  but  a  few 
weeks  before  his  end.  He  left  about  fifteen  hundred 
of  our  Friends,  both  men  and  women,  prisoners ;  besides 
their  being  then  eagerly  followed  and  persecuted  by 
wicked  informers;  and  many  hundreds  under  heavy 
oppression  and  suiferings,  for  twenty  pounds  per  men- 
sem, and  two-thirds  of  their  estates  seized,  and  great 
spoil  made  upon  them  in  many  counties  and  parts  of 
the  nation.  We  were  still  kept  out  of  our  meeting- 
houses in  the  streets,  both  in  and  about  London  and 
divers  other  places  ;  which  persecutions  and  sufferings 
were  continued  upon  us  for  some  time  after  king  James 
the  Second  came  to  the  throne,  and  until  he  was  pre- 
vailed upon  to  afford  us  some  relief  and  liberty.  All 
which  we  have  cause  to  ascribe  principally  to  the  over- 
ruling Power  and  Providence  of  Almighty  God  ;  in 
whose  hands  the  hearts  of  kings  and  princes  are  :  and 
He  can  turn  them  like  waters.  To  Him  be  the  domi- 
nion and  praise  of  all  for  ever ! 


In  the  year  1G84,  George  Whitehead  being  taken  at 
a  meeting  in  ^Vhitc  Hart  Court,  in  the  act  of  prayer, 
was  for  a  short  time  confined  in  the  prison  of  Newgate, 
under  an  indictment  for  being  engaged  "  in  an  unlawful 
assembly,  riolonsh/  and  with  force  of  anus  P^  Tlie  re- 
corder evinced  his  usual  severity  ;  but  George  White- 
head observes,  that  some  of  the  magistrates  of  the  city 
of  London  were  men  of  more  moderation  than  the  re- 
corder ;  and  (he  sheriff,  Sir  Samuel  Dashwood,  soon 
sent  an  order  to  the  keepers  of  Newgate,  to  discharge 
him  fiom  his  imprisonment;  which  was  thus  of  only 
about  sixteen  days'  continuance. 

He  thus  expresses  himself,  on  reviewing  the  suffer- 
ings to  which  he  had  been  exposed  in  the  few  previous 
years. 

"  I  humbly  thank  the  Lord,  my  Heavenly  Father, 
and  praise  his  worthy  name,  in  remembrance  how  He 
enabled  me  to  be  resigned  to  his  will,  in  suffering  both 


G.    WHITEHEAD.  81 

in  person  and  estate ;  and  how  well  my  dear  wife  was 
given  up  to  sulfer  with  me,  for  the  blessed  Truth's  sake, 
in  those  days.  But  the  Lord  our  God  supported  and 
comforted  us  under  those  trials ;  as  we  were  with  one 
accord  resigned  to  his  will,  to  bear  faithful  testimony 
for  his  holy  name  and  ever  living  Truth,  which  He  had 
made  us  partakers  and  witnesses  of.  Blessed  be  his 
glorious  Name  for  evermore  !" 


(    82    ) 


SECTION  XVI. 

Suffering  state  of  the  Society  at  the  death  of  Charles  11. — Repre- 
eentation  of  it  by  an  interview  with  king  James  II.  and  address 
to  him. — List  of  the  sufferers — Second  interview  with  the  king, 
and  full  representation  of  the  Quakers'  case  addressed  to  him 
and  to  the  parliament — The  king  grants  a  general  warrant  for 
the  release  of  the  prisoners. — Commission  granted  on  George 
Whitehead's  application  to  the  king  to  inquire  into  the  dishonest 
practices  of  the  informers — Their  suppression — One  of  them  in 
distress  applies  to  George  Whitehead,  and  is  relieved  by  hira. 

The  period  of  the  death  of  Charles  the  Second,  ap- 
pears to  have  been  the  extreme  point  of  suffering  to  the 
Society  of  Friends.  Notwithstanding  his  character  for 
good  nature,  and  the  frequent  expression  of  his  intention 
to  reUeve  them,  they  were  persecuted  to  a  great  extent, 
under  the  laws  made  against  Papists  in  the  reign  of 
Elizabeth  ;  whilst  the  immediate  objects  of  those  sta- 
tutes were,  under  the  king's  favour,  enjoying  compara- 
tive liberty.  Probably  the  worshippers  of  uniformity 
M'ould  not  have  been  satisfied  without  some  victims  for 
their  idol ;  and  it  was  no  doubt  more  agreeable  to  the 
king  to  sacrifice  the  poor  nonconforming  protestants, 
than  to  allow  the  insane  fury  of  the  people  to  fall  upon 
his  immediate  friends. 

The  prisons  of  England  were  crowded  with  honest 
and  industrious  people,  whose  only  crime  was  a  tender 
conscience,  and  against  whom  it  might  truly  be  said, 
that  no  occasion  teas  found,  except  concerning  the  law  of 
their  God. 

No  less  than  fourteen  hundred  and  sixty  of  the 
people  called  Quakers  were  at  this  time  in  the  prisons 
of  England  and  Wales,  in  many  places  crowded  toge- 
ther without  respect  to  age,  sex,  or  circumstance,  in 
cold  and  filthy  holes  and  dungeons,  where  many  had 
died,  and  faithfully  earned  the  crown  of  martyrdom. 


G.    WniTEHEAD.  83 

Not  a  few  of  these  were  fathers  and  mothers  of  families, 
which  were  thus  left  destitute  of  their  natural  guardians 
and  protectors  :  indeed  it  is  difficult  to  say  whether  the 
suffering  within  the  walls  of  the  prisons,  intense  as  it 
was,  was  not  exceeded  by  that  endured  by  the  numer- 
ous relatives  and  friends  of  the  prisoners.  The  cruel 
separations  of  husbands  from  wives,  and  fathers  and 
mothers  from  their  children,  were  generally  preceded 
or  accompanied  by  robbery  and  spoil,  and  not  unfre- 
quently  the  entire  ruin  of  the  family  as  regarded  their 
means  of  outward  support.  The  true  order  of  govern- 
ment was  directly  inverted,  governors  being  a  terror  to 
those  who  did  well  rather  than  to  those  who  did  ill. 

Apologizing  to  the  reader  for  these  introductory  ob- 
servations to  the  present  chapter,  I  proceed  to  give  the 
substance  of  George  Whitehead's  account  of  his  own 
and  his  friends'  proceedings,  immediately  after  the  ac- 
cession of  James  the  Second  to  the  English  crown. 

Much  fear  was  now  entertained  as  to  what  would 
become  of  protestant  dissenters,  many  anticipating  an 
increase  of  persecution,  under  the  government  of  a  pro- 
fessed papist.  George  Whitehead  however,  whose 
elastic  mind  never  seemed  to  sink,  had  a  lively  impres- 
sion which  he  communicated  to  his  friends,  that  they 
should  have  ease  under  this  king's  reign ; — and  cer- 
tainly he  spared  no  pains  to  bring  it  about. 

A  few  weeks  after  the  death  of  Charles,  he  present- 
ed to  his  successor,  in  company  with  Gilbert  Latey  and 
Alexander  Parker,  the  following  truly  courteous  but 
unflattering  address.* 

"  To  King  James  the  Second. 

The  humble  .Application  of  the  people  called  Quakers. 
"  Whereas  it  hath  pleased  Almighty  God,  by  whom 

*  Echard  in  his  history  has  given  a  very  different  but  altogether 
spurious  address  to  the  King.  The  object  of  the  composition  ap- 
pears to  have  been  to  place  tho  Quakers  in  a  ridiculous  light. 


84  MEMOIRS    OF 

kings  reign,  to  take  hence  the  lale  king  Charles  the 
Second,  and  to  preserve  thee  peaceably  to  succeed, 
we  thy  subjects  heartily  desire,  that  the  Giver  of  all 
good  and  perfect  gifts,  may  please  to  endue  thee  with 
wisdom  and  mercy,  in  the  use  of  thy  great  power,  to 
His  glory,  the  king's  honour  and  the  kingdom's  good. 
And  it  being  our  sincere  resolution,  according  to  our 
peaceable  principles  and  conversation,  by  the  assistance 
of  Almighty  God,  to  live  peaceably  and  honestly,  as 
becomes  true  and  faithful  subjects  under  the  king's 
government,  and  a  conscientious  people,  that  truly  fear 
and  serve  God,  we  do  humbly  hope,  that  the  king's  ten- 
derness will  appear,  and  extend  with  his  power,  to 
express  the  same ;  recommending  to  his  princely  clem- 
ency, the  case  of  our  present  suffering  Friends  hereun- 
to annexed." 

The  case  of  the  suffering  Friends  referred  to  in  the 
petition,  contains  so  simple  and  affecting  an  account  of 
their  situation  that  it  is  well  worthy  of  perusal. 

"  The  distressed  case  and  request  of  the  suffering  peo- 
ple commonly  called  Quakers,  humbly  presented. 

Showing, 
"  That  according  to  accounts  lately  given,  above 
fourteen  hundred  of  the  said  people,  both  men  and  wo- 
men, are  continued  prisoners,  in  England  and  Wales, 
only  for  tender  conscience  toward  Almighty  God  that 
made  them.*  Many  under  sentence  of  premunire,  and 
many  near  it,  not  for  refusing  the  duty  or  substance  of 
allegiance  itself,  but  only  because  they  dare  not  swear ; 
others  under  fines  on  the  act  for  banishment ;  many  on 


*  The  following  list  of  the  number  of  prisoners  in  each  county 
is  curious,  as  showing  the  wido  spread  of  the  society  at  this  time 
throughout  England  and  Wales.  We  have  no  means  of  ascertain- 
ing the  total  number,  but  large  as  it  no  doubt  was,  the  number  of 
svfferers,  including  the  families  of  the  prisoners  and  those  who  suf- 
fered the  spoil  of  their  goods,  must  have  formed  a  lar^e  and  affect- 
ing proportion  of  the  whole  Society.    No  doubt  also,  such  was  tho 


G.    WHITEHEAD. 


85 


writs  of  excommunication ;  besides  some  hundreds  have 
died  prisoners,  many  by  means  of  this  long  imprisonment 
since  the  year  1680,  as  it  is  judged;  thereby  making 
widows  and  fatherless,  and  leaving  poor  innocent  fami- 
lies desolate,  in  distress  and  sorrow.  These  two  hard 
winters'  confinement  tending  also  to  the  destruction  of 
many  in  cold  holes  and  gaols,  their  healths  being  great- 
ly impaired  thereby :  besides,  the  violence  and  woful 
spoil  made  by  merciless  informers,  on  the  conventicle 
act,  upon  many  convicted,  unsummoned,  and  unheard 
in  their  own  defence,  both  in  city  and  country.  As  also 
on  Qui  Tam  writs,  and  other  processes,  for  twenty 
pounds  a  month,  and  two-thirds  of  estates  seized  for 
the  king ;  all  tending  to  the  ruin  of  trade,  husbandry, 
and  industrious  families;  to   some  not  a  bed  left,  to 


sympathy  as  well  as  courage  of  this  branch  of  the  Church  of  Christ 
at  that  day,  that  it  might  be  almost  said  :  "  Whether  one  member 
suflfered,  all  the  members  suffered  with  it." 

An  account  of  the  number  of  the  said  prisoners  called  Q^uakers, 
in  the  several  counties. 


Bedfordshire 

30 

Leicestershire 

37 

Berkshire 

37 

Lincolnshire 

12 

Bristol 

103 

London  and  Middlesex 

66 

Buckinghamshire 

19 

Norfolk 

52 

Cambridgeshire 

8 

Northamptonshire 

59 

Ely 

11 

Nottinghamshire 

6 

Cheshire 

9 

Oxon 

t7 

Cornwall 

32 

Salop 

18 

Cumberland 

22 

Somersetshire 

36 

Derbyshire 

1 

Southamptonshire 

15 

Devonshire 

104 

Staffordshire 

1 

Dorsetshire 

13 

Suffolk 

79 

Durham 

39 

Surrey 

29 

Essex 

10 

Sussex 

17 

Gloucestershire 

66 

Warwickshire 

31 

Hertfordshire 

18 

Westmoreland 

5 

Herefordshire 

1 

Wilts 

34 

Huntingdonshire 

10 

Worcestershire 

15 

Kent 

16 

Yorkshire 

279 

Lancashire 

73 

Wales 

30 

Total 

1460. 

▼OL.   II. 

H 

86  *  MEMOIRS    OF 

others  no  cattle  to  till  their  ground,  or  give  them  milk, 
nor  corn  for  bread  or  seed,  nor  tools  to  work  withal. 
And  all  these,  and  other  severities  done  under  pretence 
o{  s('rvi)ig  the  king  and  the  Church,  thereby  to  force  us 
to  violate  our  consciences,  and  consequently  to  destroy 
our  souls,  which  we  are  very  tender  of,  as  we  are  of  our 
peace  with  God  and  our  own  consciences,  though  ac- 
counted as  sheep  for  the  slaughter.  And  notwithstand- 
ing all  these  long  sustained  extremities,  we  the  said 
people  do  solemnly  profess  and  declare,  in  the  sight  of 
the  Heart  Searcher,  that  we  have  nothing  but  good  will 
and  true  affection  to  the  king,  praying  ibr  his  safety, 
and  the  kingdom's  peace.  We  have  never  been  found 
in  any  seditious  or  treasonable  designs,  as  being  wholly 
contrary  to  our  Christian  principles  and  holy  profession. 

"  And  knowing  that  where  the  word  of  a  king  is,  there 
is  power,  we  in  Christian  humility,  and  for  Christ's  sake, 
intreat  that  the  king  will  please  to  find  out  some  ex- 
pedient for  our  relief  in  these  cases,  from  prison,  spoil, 
and  ruin. 

"  And  we  shall,  as  in  Christian  duty  bound,  pray 
God  for  the  king's  welfare  in  this  world,  and  his  eternal 
happiness  in  that  which  is  to  come. 

"  London,  2nd  of  ist  month,  called  March,  1G84-5." 

Between  three  and  four  months  after  the  first  inter- 
view, no  relief  being  yet  obtained,  George  Whitehead 
was  "  deeply  concerned  in  Spirit"  to  go  to  the  king,  to 
give  him  further  information,  and  to  endeavour  to  per- 
suade him  to  put  a  stop  to  the  ruinous  persecutions. 
Acquainting  his  Friend  Robert  Barclay  with  his  inten- 
tions, (for  whom  the  king  had  a  particular  respect,  hav- 
ing known  him  in  Scotland,)  he  w^as  willing  to  unite  in 
the  application  ;  and  they  appear  to  have  readily  ob- 
tained admittance  into  the  king's  presence. 

George  Whitehead  took  the  principal  part  in  this  in- 
terview ;  from  his  iiccount  of  which  1  select  the  follow- 
ing passages : 

George    Whitehead,    "  We  thankfully   acknowledge 


G.    WHITEUEAD.  .  87 

the  king's  favour  in  granting  us  this  admittance.  Hav- 
ing acquainted  the  Lord  Peterborough  with  our  great 
sulFerings  by  informers,  &c.  in  and  about  London,  he 
promised  us  to  acquaint  the  king  therewith  ;  which  we 
hope  he  did,  for  he  said, '  he  had  acquainted  the  king 
with  our  desire,  that  he  would  speak  to  the  recorder, 
that  a  stop  might  be  put  to  the  informers,'  &c.  And 
further  told  us, '  that  the  king  promised  to  send  for  the 
recorder,  and  speak  to  him  himself,  and  that  we  should 
shortly  feel  the  effects.'  " 

King.  "  The  Lord  Peterborough  did  speak  to  me, 
and  acquainted  me  with  it :  I  have  not  as  yet  spoken 
to  the  recorder,  but  intend  to  speak  to  him  to-morrow  ; 
I'll  send  for  him  into  the  prince's  lodgings,  and  speak 
with  him  about  it :  therefore  do  you  put  me  in  mind 
of  it,  when  I  go  into  the  House  of  Lords  to-morrow." 

George  Whitehead.  "  The  late  king,  after  his  corona- 
tion, gave  out  his  Proclamation  of  Grace,  to  release  our 
Friends  out  of  the  gaols  throughout  England ;  upon 
which  many  hundreds  were  released. 

"  And  in  the  year  1672,  the  late  king  gave  out  his 
Declaration  of  Indulgence,  for  the  liberty  of  tender 
consciences ;  and  his  Letters  Patent,  (or  pardon,)  under 
the  great  seal,  to  release  our  Friends  out  of  prisons : 
whereupon  we  had  liberty  for  some  years." 

King.  "  I  intended  a  general  coronation  pardon  ;  but 
the  reason  why  it  was  deferred  until  the  meeting  of 
parliament,  was,  because  some  persons  who  are  obnox- 
ious, by  being  in  the  late  plot,  would  thereby  have  been 
pardoned,  and  so  might  have  come  to  sit  in  parliament ; 
which  would  not  have  been  safe.  But  1  intend  that 
your  Friends  shall  be  discharged  out  of  prison.  I  was 
the  cause  of  drawing  up  that  Declaration,  and  1  never 
gave  my  consent  to  the  making  of  it  void :  it  was  the 
Presb}  terians  who  caused  it  to  be  made  void  or  can- 
celled in  parliament." 

George  Whitehead.  "  The  imprisonments,  as  also  the 
great  spoil  made  by  informers,  is  still  very  hard  upon 
many  in  and  about  London,  and  other  parts  :  five  war- 


88  MEMOIRS    OF 

rants  at  once  have  been  executed  upon   one  person, 
amounting  to  fifty  pounds,  being  ten  pounds  a  warrant 
We  intreat  the  king  to  put  a  stop  to  these  informers  ; 
for  many  are  greatly  disabled  by  them,  and  about  giv- 
ing over  their  trades  and  shops;  although  we  areas 
willing  to  pay  our  taxes  and  civil  duties  to  the  king  as 
any  other  people.     And  by  the  close  imprisonment  of 
many,  even  here  in  London,  in  Newgate  gaol,  divers  of 
our  Friends  have  been  so  sufTocated,  that  they  have 
been  taken  out  sick  of  a  malignant  fever,  and  in  a  few 
days  died. 

King.  "  I  intend  your  Friends  shall  be  released  out 
of  prison ;  and  I'll  consider  of  a  way  how  to  stop  the 
informers :  but  they  having  a  part  of  the  fines,  I  must 
consider  which  way  I  may  best  take  to  stop  them  and 
ease  you :"  or  to  the  very  same  effect. 

George  Whitehead.  "  We  have  just  exceptions  against 
the  Conventicle  Act  itself,  in  divers  clauses." 

Robert  Barclay.  "  Convicting  men  behind  their  backs 
is  contrary  to  the  law  of  nations." 

George  Whitehead.  "  And  then  the  awarding  treble 
costs  against  the  appellant,  in  case  he  is  cast  in  the 
trial  of  his  appeal,  but  no  costs  against  the  informers, 
nor  any  provision  made  that  they  shall  make  any  res- 
titution to  the  party  grieved,  in  case  they  be  cast  or 
nonsuit  in  their  unjust  persecution  ;  this  appears  very 
unequal. 

"  We  are  inclinable  to  present  an  account  of  our 
sufferings  to  the  parliament,  wherein  we  desire  the 
king's  favourable  concurrence,  and  therefore  thought 
meet  to  acquaint  the  king  first  with  our  intention  ;  for 
we  are  willing  and  desirous  that  he  should  be  acquaint- 
ed with  all  public  applications  we  make  to  the  parlia- 
ment." 

Ki72g.     "  What  is  it  ?" 

George  Whitehead.  "  It  is  a  plain  account  of  our  suf- 
ferings in  matters  of  fact,  of  the  same  kind  with  that 
which  we  lately  gave  to  the  king,  with  some  reasons 
oiTered  for  the  repeal  of  the  Conventicle  act." 


G.    WHITEHEAD.  89 

King.  "  Let  me  see  it,  and  I'll  give  you  my  opinion 
concerning  it." 

George  Whitehead.  "  We  intend  to  show  it  the  king. 
And  we  humbly  and  thankfully  acknowledge  the  king's 
favour,  in  admitting  us  thus  far  to  be  heard." 

The  account  alluded  to  in  the  foregoing  conversation, 
was  addressed :  "  To  the  king  and  both  houses  of  par- 
liament, the  suffering  condition  of  the  peaceable  people 
called  Quakers,  only  for  tender  conscience  towards  Al- 
mighty God,  humbly  presented." 

It  stated :  "  That  of  late  above  one  thousand  five 
hundred  of  the  said  people,  both  men  and  women,  hav- 
ing been  detained  prisoners  in  England,  and  part  of 
them  in  Wales,  some  of  which  being  since  discharged 
by  the  judges,  and  others  freed  by  death  through  their 
long  and  tedious  imprisonment,  there  are  now  remain- 
ing, according  to  late  accounts,  about  one  thousand 
three  hundred  eighty  and  three,  above  two  hundred  of 
them  women." 

It  then  proceeded  to  state  the  grounds  and  nature 
of  the  sufferings,  much  in  the  same  manner  as  had  been 
done  in  the  account  presented  to  the  king  immediately 
after  his  accession  ;*  and  after  enumerating  the  particu- 
lar statutes  under  which  they  chiefly  suffered,f  the  do- 
cument proceeds  as  follows : 

"  Many,  both  men  and  women,  have  been  fined,  im- 

*  The  list  of  sufferers  is  given  at  page  84,  as  a  note. 

+  The  5th  of  Eliz.  chap.  23,  De  Excoinmunicatio  Capiendo. 

The  23rd  of  Eliz.  chap.  1,  for  Twenty  Pounds  per  Month. 

The  29th  of  Eliz.  chap.  6,  for  Continuation. 

The  35th  of  Eliz.  chap.  1,  for  Abjuring  the  Realm,  on  pain  of 
Death. 

The  1st  of  Eliz.  chap.  2,  for  Twelve-Pence  a  Sunday. 

The  3rd  of  king  James  I.  chap.  4,  for  Premunire,  Imprisonment 
during  Life,  and  Estates  confiscated. 

The  13th  and  14th  of  king  Charles  II.  against  Quakers,  «fec. 
Transportation. 

The  22nd  of  King  Charles  II.  chap.  1,  against  Seditious  Conven- 
tides. 

The  17th  of  king  Charles  II,  chap.  2,  against  Nonconformists. 

The  27th  of  Henry  VIII.  ch.  20,  some  few  suffer  thereupon. 

H    2 


90  MEMOIRS  OP 

prisoned,  and  detained  for  non-payment,  some  till  death, 
on  indictments  at  common  law,  for  riots,  breaches  of  the 
peace,  &c. ;  instance  the  city  of  Bristol,  what  a  great 
number  have  been  these  divers  years  straitly  confined 
and  crowded  in  gaol,  mostly  above  one  hundred  on  such 
pretence,  about  seventy  of  them  women,  many  aged. 
And  in  the  city  of  Norwich,  in  the  years  1682-3,  about 
seventy  kept  in  hold,  forty-five  whereof  in  holes  and 
dungeons,  for  many  weeks  together ;  and  great  hard- 
ships have  been  and  are  in  other  places :  so  that  such 
our  peaceable  meetings  are  sometimes  fined  on  the  Con- 
venticle act,  as  for  a  religious  exercise,  and  other  times 
at  common  law,  as  riotous,  routous,  &c.  when  nothing 
of  that  nature  could  ever  be  proved  against  them,  there 
being  nothing  of  violence  or  injury  either  done,  threaten- 
ed, or  intended,  against  the  person  or  property  of  any 
one  whatsoever. 

"  The  during  and  tedious  imprisonments  are  chiefly 
on  the  writs  De  Excommunicatio  Capiendo,  upon  the 
judgment  of  prcmunire,  and  upon  fines  said  to  be  for 
the  king. 

"  The  great  spoil  and  excessive  distresses  and  seiz- 
ures, are  chiefly  upon  the  Conventicle  act,  and  for 
twenty  pounds  a  month,  two-thirds  of  estates,  and  on 
Qui  Tam  writs.  In  some  counties,  divers  have  suffer- 
ed by  seizures  and  distresses  above  eight  years  past; 
and  writs  lately  issued  out  for  further  seizures  in  several 
counties,  for  twenty  pounds  a  month,  amounting  to  the 
value  of  many  thousands  of  pounds ;  sometimes  seizing 
for  eleven  months  at  once,  and  making  sale  of  all  goods 
and  chattels,  within  doors  and  without,  both  of  house- 
hold goods,  beds,  shop  goods,  moveables,  cattle,  &,c.  and 
prosecution  hereupon  still  continued,  and  in  divers 
counties  much  increased  :  so  that  several,  who  have 
long  employed  some  hundreds  of  poor  families  in  manu- 
facture, and  paid  considerable  taxes  to  the  king,  are 
greatly  disabled  from  both,  by  these  writs  and  seizures 
as  well  as  by   long  imprisonments.     So  many  serge 


G.    WHITEHEAD.  91 

makers,  of  Plymouth,  as  kept  above  five  hundred  poor 
people  at  work,  disabled  by  imprisonment :  many  in 
the  county  of  Suffolk,  under  a  long  imprisonment,  sen- 
tenced to  a  premunire ;  one  whereof  employed  at  least 
two  hundred  poor  people  in  the  woollen  manufacture, 
when  at  liberty.  Omitting  other  instances,  that  we 
may  not  seem  too  tedious,  these  may  evince  how  de- 
structive such  severities  are  to  trade  and  industry,  and 
ruinous  to  many  poor  families. 

•'  Be  pleased  to  make  our  case  your  own,  and  do  to 
us  as  you  would  be  done  unto :  as  you  would  not  be 
oppressed  or  destroyed  in  your  persons  or  estates,  nor 
have  your  properties  invaded  and  posterities  ruined,  for 
serving  and  worshipping  Almighty  God,  that  mbde  all 
mankind,  according  to  your  persuasions  and  consciences, 
but  would,  no  doubt,  enjoy  the  liberty  thereof;  so  we 
entreat  you  to  allow  the  same  liberty  to  tender  con- 
sciences, that  live  peaceably  under  the  government,  as 
you  would  enjoy  yourselves ;  and  to  disannul  the  said 
Conventicle  act,  and  to  stop  these  devouring  informers, 
and  also  take  away  all  sanguinary  laws,  corporal  and 
pecuniary  punishments,  merely  on  the  score  of  religion 
and  conscience ;  and  let  not  the  ruin  and  cry  of  the 
widow,  fatherless,  and  innocent  families  lie  upon  this 
nation,  nor  at  your  door ;  who  have  not  only  a  great 
trust  reposed  in  you,  for  the  prosperity  and  good  of  the 
whole  nation,  but  also  do  profess  Christianity  and  the 
tender  religion  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ. 

"  Having  thus  given  you  in  short,  the  general  state 
of  our  suffering  case,  in  matter  of  fact,  without  personal 
reflection ;  we,  in  Christian  humility  and  for  Christ's 
sake,  intreat  that  you  will  tenderly  and  charitably  con- 
sider of  the  premises,  and  find  out  some  effectual  expe- 
dient or  way  for  our  relief  from  prisons,  spoil,  and  ruin." 

George  Whitehead  and  Gilbert  Latey  waited  upon 
the  king,  previous  to  their  presenting  the  address  to  the 
parliament,  to  receive  his  sanction ;  which  he  freely 


92  MEJIOIRS    OP 

gave  :*  and  having  now  become  fully  acquainted  with 
the  severe  perseculion  under  which  the  Society  labour- 
ed, he  was  pleased,  says  the  narrative,  '*  to  grant  a 
comprehensive  warrant  or  commission  to  the  then  at- 
torney general,  Sir  Robert  Sawyer,  on  our  sufTering 
Friends'  behalf;  including  the  several  sorts  of  processes 
and  convictions  under  which  many  of  them  sutrercd."f 
This  order  was  dated  15th  of  March,  1685-6,  httle  more 
than  a  year  after  the  king's  accession. 

George  Whitehead  gives  the  following  account  of  the 
proceedings  to  carry  into  eiTect  this  joyful  release. 

When  this  warrant  was  granted  and  delivered  to  us, 
the  attorney  general,  Sir  Robert  Sawyer,  was  not  in 
London,  but  near  forty  miles  from  thence,  at  his  coun- 
try house  at  Highclcare,  in  Hampshire  ;  and  Friends 
in  London  being  very  desirous  that  our  Friends  in  the 
several  prisons  throughout  England,  &.c.  might  forth- 
with be  released :  it  was  concluded  that  two  or  three 
of  us  should  take  a  journey  to  the  said  attorney  general, 
and  deliver  him  the  aforesaid  warrant  from  the  king ; 
and  then  in  the  first  place,  to  obtain  a  warrantor  libe- 
rate thereupon,  to  discharge  and  release  our  Friends  in 
and  about  London. 

John  Edge,  Rowland  Vaughan,  and  myself  were  de- 
sired forthwith  to  undertake  the  journey  to  the  attorney 
general,  for  that  service.  At  that  time  1  was  but  weak- 
ly in  body,  and  so  much  indisposed  as  to  my  health, 
that  1  thought  myself  very  unfit  for  that  journey,  for  I 
then  kept  my  chamber  ;  howbeit,  they  not  being  willing 
to  go  without  me,  I  was  in  the  greater  strait,  and  after 
a  short  consideration  was  persuaded,  and  concluded  to 

*  Gough  thinks  the  sudden  prorogation  of  parliament  prevented 
the  address  from  being  presented  to  it. 

+  Sevvel,  without  referring  to  this  special  order  for  the  discharge 
of  the  Quakers,  attributes  tlicir  rehef  to  a  proclamation  of  pardon, 
issued  soon  after  tiie  king  ascended  the  throne  ;  yet  ho  quotes  G. 
Fox's  letter  on  the  occasion,  addressed  to  Friends,  and  which  is 
dated  four  months  after  the  commission  to  the  attorney  general. 


G.  WHITEHEAD.  93 

go  with  them  if  possibly  I  might  be  enabled  to  perform 
the journey. 

Whereupon  my  dear  friend  Theodore  Ecclestone  lent 
me  a  good  easy  horse,  and  I  being  weakly,  we  were 
part  of  two  days  and  the  morning  following  before  we 
reached  to  the  attorney  general's,  who  civilly  received 
and  entertained  us,  when  we  had  produced  the  king's 
commission  to  him  ;  and  we  quickly  persuaded  him  to 
give  instructions  to  our  then  companion  Rowland  Vaug- 
han,  to  draw  up  a  warrant  or  liberate  to  release  our 
Friends,  who  then  were  prisoners  in  London.  And  ac- 
cording to  his  instructions,  Rowland  drew  up  several 
warrants  to  discharge  our  Friends  out  of  prison,  which 
the  attorney  general  signed  that  day ;  and  to  get  them 
done  he  would  have  us  stay  dinner,  so  it  was  the  third 
or  near  the  fourth  hour  before  we  could  get  all  done 
and  signed,  to  come  away  thence  ;  insomuch  that  it  was 
within  night  before  we  got  to  Theal,  about  four  miles 
beyond  Reading,  where  we  staid  at  an  inn  that  night, 
and  the  next  day  came  to  Brentford;  before  which 
time  I  was  recovered  in  my  journey,  and  was  so  well 
that  I  could  travel  much  better  than  when  I  left  Lon- 
don ;  wherein  1  thankfully  observed  the  merciful  Pro- 
vidence of  God,  in  affording  me  health  and  ability  be- 
yond expectation. 

In  a  short  time  the  attorney  general  returned  to 
London,  to  his  office  in  the  temple,  where  1  attended 
him  (with  Gilbert  Latey  sometimes)  to  sign  the  rest  of 
the  warrants ;  which  according  to  his  direction,  Row- 
land Vaughan  prepared  for  him  to  sign,  to  discharge 
the  rest  of  our  Friends  out  of  prisons  throughout  Eng- 
land, so  far  as  he  had  power  given  him  by  the  commis- 
sion aforesaid.  This  took  us  up  considerable  time  to 
attend  to  and  see  effected,  and  the  prisoners  by  degrees 
released ;  for  we  had  something  to  do  to  obtain  the 
warrants  for  release  of  our  Friends  in  some  places,  es- 
pecially at  Bristol;  the  town  clerk  having  detained 
our  Friends  there  in  prison  for  non-payment  of  his 
demands  :  which  occasioned  our  complaint  against  him 


94  MEMOIRS    OP 

to  the  king;  and  on  my  debating  the  matter  with  him 
before  the  attorney  general,  he  was  persuaded  to  sub- 
mit the  matter  to  our  Friends'  courtesy  and  freedom, 
and  was  desirous  that  I  would  let  him  have  the  attorney 
general's  warrant  to  discharge  our  Friends  when  he  re- 
turned to  liristol ;  and  accordingly  I  intrusted  him 
with  the  warrant ;  whereupon  he  got  them  released 
out  of  prison. 

Thus,  though  many  had  died  in  confinement,  were  a 
great  number  of  worthy  confessors  for  the  Truth,  libe- 
rated from  their  severe  imprisonment  of  ten,  twelve, 
and  fifteen  years  ;  and  permitted  to  return  to  the  bosom 
of  their  families  and  the  Church. 

Great  however  as  was  the  ease,  the  sufferings  of  the 
Society  were  by  no  means  at  an  end.  The  clergy  in 
general  appeared  decidedly  unfriendly  to  toleration, 
and  a  great  number  of  magistrates,  especially  in  Lon- 
don and  Middlesex,  encouraged  a  set  of  vile  informers, 
to  whom  the  poor  Quakers  were  a  constant  prey. 
George  Whitehead  now  exerted  himself  earnestly,  to 
induce  the  king  to  put  a  stop  to  the  proceedings  of  these 
merciless  creatures. 

His  exertions  in  this  business  were  very  successful. 
He  inserts  in  his  memoirs  a  petition  to  king  James, 
which  was  signed  by  several  of  the  sufferers,  stating 
the  cruelly  and  illegality  of  the  proceedings  against 
them ;  that  they  were  frequently  convicted  "  in  their 
absence,  and  often  on  false  depositions  sworn  by  con- 
cealed informers" — that  warrants  against  them  w^ere 
issued  out  by  the  recorder  of  London,  "  which  were  ex- 
ecuted with  great  rigour  and  spoil,  and  without  com- 
passion to  widows,  fatherless,  or  poor  families,  who  were 
sustained  by  their  daily  industry ;  not  leaving  them  a 
bed  to  lie  on  :"  that  w  hen  they  appealed  from  the  re- 
corder's judgment,  he  being  judge  also  on  the  trial,  alter- 
ed the  record,  and  urged  juries  to  find  against  the  ap- 
pellant ;  by  which  they  incurred  heavy  charges  and 
treble  costs.      Besides  these  grievances,  the  petition 


G.    WniTEUEAD.  95 

stated,  "  that  numbers  were  imprisoned  and  crowded 
in  gaol  by  him  and  others,  for  the  same  cause,  to  the 
greatly  impairing  of  their  healths  and  the  loss  of  some 
lives." 

After  this  complaint  had  been  presented,  George 
Whitehead  addressed  the  king,  requesting  him  to  ap- 
point commissioners  to  hear  them  and  the  informers  face 
to  face,  that  they  might  have  a  fair  opportunity  to 
prove  the  matters  of  fact  complained  of  against  them. 
The  king  granted  this  request,  and  issued  a  commission 
accordingly,  which  was  delivered  to  George  Whitehead 
without  fees.  He,  and  some  of  his  friends,  prosecuted 
this  matter  very  efhciently.  They  delivered  the  com- 
mission to  two  persons  who  had  been  nominated  as  the 
investigators  of  the  affair,  and  who  authorized  George 
Whitehead  to  issue  summonses  to  all  persons  whom  he 
wished  to  be  brought  before  them.  Having  collected 
and  fairly  stated  about  fifty  cases  of  unjust  proceed- 
ings on  the  part  of  the  informers  towards  Friends,  he 
accordingly  issued  his  summonses  to  the  several  par- 
ties. 

On  the  day  appointed,  a  great  company  of  informers 
were  collected  at  Cliflbrd's  Inn,  doubtless  under  feelings 
of  no  little  oi)agrin;  but  when  they  saw  a  large  num- 
ber of  the  usual  objects  of  their  prey,  coming  forward 
to  charge  them  with  injustice  and  cruelty,  before  com- 
missioners who  would  give  an  impartial  hearing  to  both 
parties,  they  seemed  ready  "  to  gnash  upon  them  with 
their  teeth." 

Two  justices  of  the  peace,  who  had  incurred  the  high 
displeasure  of  the  informers,  by  refusing  to  grant  war- 
rants against  some  Friends,  or  to  convict  them  in  their 
absence,  were  present  at  the  inquiry,  at  the  first  meet- 
ing of  the  commissioners. 

George  Whitehead  proceeded  very  methodically  in 
his  charges,  beginning  with  those  cases  in  which  infor- 
mers had  sworn  falsely,  producing  each  Friend's  case 
in  order,  and  calling  upon  the  parties  concerned  in  each 
to  appear  together.     Numerous  cases  were  fully  esta- 


96  MEMOIBS    OF 

blished,  in  which  the  informers  had  sworn  against 
Friends  for  being  at  meetings  which  they  were  not  at ; 
also  for  holding  meetings  at  certain  places  and  houses, 
where  no  meetings  had  been  held  ;  and  they  were  also 
proved  to  have  sworn  upon  trust,  from  one  another's 
false  and  presumptuous  information.  These  several 
cases  of  false  swearing,  occupied  six  broadsides ;  and 
there  were  numerous  cases  of  excessive  distraints,  ac- 
companied by  force  and  violence.  So  many  instances 
indeed,  says  George  Whitehead,  "  we  gave  to  the  com- 
missioners on  the  first  day,  of  the  horrid  abuses  of  the 
informers,  that  they  seemed  almost  weary  with  hearing 
them ;  matters  of  fact  being  evidently  proved  against 
the  informers  to  their  faces,  and  to  their  great  shame 
and  confusion."  At  the  first  meeting  they  did  not  get 
through  one-fourth  of  the  charges ;  and  a  subsequent 
meeting  was  held,  at  which,  though  they  did  not  get 
through  half  the  cases,  the  commissioners  thought  they 
had  ample  grounds  on  which  to  form  their  report  to 
the  king.  George  Whitehead  wished  them,  seeing  the 
charges  of  false  swearing  and  violence  had  been  so  fully 
proved  against  the  informers,  to  discourage  or  stop 
their  further  proceedings ;  but  this  the  commissioners 
thought  was  without  their  province. 

The  informers  were  of  course  greatly  enraged  against 
George  Whitehead ;  and  they  so  threatened  him,  that 
some  of  his  friends  were  afraid  of  their  doing  him  a 
mischief.  He  was  however  no  way  intimidated :  "  I 
told  them,"  says  he,  "  that  1  feared  them  not ;  nor  what 
they  could  do ;  for  I  was  bound  in  conscience  to  make 
them  manifest  to  the  government :  they  should  not  de- 
ter me,  by  their  threats,  from  appearing  before  the 
highest  authority  against  them." 

George  Whitehead  had  several  interviews  with  the 
commissioners,  in  which  he  laid  before  them  the  cases 
which  had  not  been  inquired  into.  On  one  of  these  in- 
terviews they  showed  him,  at  his  request,  the  draft  of 
their  report ;  when  he  was  surprised  to  find,  that  in- 
stead of  stating  the  plain  matters  of  fact,  in  regard  to 


G.    WHITEHEAD.  97 

which  they  had  to  inquire,  they  had  given  their  opinion 
as  to  an  easier  way  of  dealing  with  the  Quakers  in  future. 
George  Whitehead  remonstrated  with  them,  for  thus 
deviating  from  the  points  on  which  they  were  directed 
to  report  to  the  king  ;  when  "  one  of  the  commissioners 
told  him  how  hardly  they  were  put  to  it  to  draw  up 
their  report,  being  sent  to  out  of  London,  by  some  great 
person  or  persons  of  the  Church,  and  much  requested 
to  report  nothing  which  might  disable  the  informers,  or 
put  them  by  from  their  great  service  to  the  Church !" 
George  Whitehead  however  pleaded  for  justice  being 
done  to  them,  by  a  report  as  to  matters  of  fact  being 
made  to  the  king  ;  and  the  commissioners  did  materially 
amend  their  report  in  consequence. 

Some  further  information  was  given  to  the  king  rela- 
tive to  the  cases,  in  a  letter  ;  in  which,  having  referred 
to  the  mal-practices  of  the  informers,  as  stated  in  the 
report  of  the  commissioners,  the  Friends  concluded  by 
earnestly  entreating  the  king  to  put  a  speedy  stop  to 
the  cruel  proceedings  against  them.  Our  author,  with 
all  his  coolness  and  moderation,  seems  unable  to  repress 
the  feelings  of  his  virtuous  indignation,  against  the  sys- 
tem of  plunder  allowed  to  be  carried  on  under  pretence 
of  law,  by  the  informers.  "  A  company,"  says  he,  "  of 
loose,  irreligious,  profligate  wretches,  have  been  en- 
couraged and  suffered  to  plunder,  rob,  steal,  break 
houses,  commit  burglary,  tear  away  and  make  havoc 
and  spoil  of  their  neighbours'  goods,  to  serve  the  Church 
and  King  !  What  Protestant  age  or  church  can  pa- 
rallel such  barbarities  and  cruel  persecution?  How 
scandalous  to  church  and  state  were  such  agents  !" 

The  scandal  however  was  on  the  eve  of  being  re- 
moved. Whether  the  king  was  sincere  or  not,  in  his 
professions  in  regard  to  hberty  of  conscience,  Divine 
Providence  was  pleased  so  to  overrule  events,  as  tended 
to  the  ease  of  the  suffering  members  of  Christ's  Church, 
who  dissented  from  the  established  worship.  "The 
king,"  says  the  memoir,  "  was  at  last  induced  so  far  to 
afford  us  relief  from  those  devourers,  by  signifying  his 

VOL.   II.  I 


98  MEMOIRS,    &C. 

pleasure  to  some  of  his  subordinate  ministers,  magis- 
trates, &,c.  to  put  a  stop  to  tiie  destructive  persecution 
and  spoil,  made  upon  us  by  the  informers."  "  Their 
unjust  trade  and  gain  being  discountenanced  by  the  jus- 
tices and  the  quarter  sessions,  in  London  and  Middlesex, 
as  well  as  other  parts  of  the  kingdom,  and  discoveries 
made  of  their  wickedness  and  injuries,  some  of  them 
were  forced  to  fly ;  and  others  turned  to  beggary." 

As  during  the  severe  sufferings  which  they  had  been 
called  to  endure  for  conscience'  sake,  the  Friends  had 
exhibited  a  remarkable  instance  of  Christian  patience  ; 
so  also,  when  their  enemies,  the  mercenary  informers, 
became  destitute,  did  they  exhibit  a  no  less  striking 
instance  of  Christian  forgiveness. 

The  Friends,  though  they  had  been  so  severely  im- 
poverished by  the  proceedings  of  the  informers,  did  not 
hesitate  to  supply  the  vs^ants  of  these  worthless  crea- 
tures in  their  destitution.  George  Whitehead  gives  an 
instance  of  this  kind  in  his  own  case.  "  After  the  trade 
of  informing  was  over,"  says  he,  "George  Hilton,  a 
notorious  informer,  came  to  my  house,  complaining  to 
me  that  he  was  to  be  a  servant  to  a  great  person,  but 
wanted  clothes,  or  money  to  buy  him  some  ;  whereupon 
1  gave  him  something,  being  willing  to  render  good 
against  evil ;  he  having  been  a  very  injurious  adversary 
against  myself,  and  many  others  of  our  Friends  ;  how- 
ever, 1  was  comforted  that  the  case  was  so  well  altered, 
as  that  from  taking  away  our  goods  by  force,  these  poor 
wretches  were  fain  to  come  and  beg  of  us."  Thus  did 
these  Christians  heap  the  coals  of  charity  upon  the 
heads  of  their  enemies. 


(    99  ) 


SECTION  XVII. 


• 


The  state  of  Society  in  other  parts  of  the  nation. — Two  meeting 
houses  seized  and  used  by  the  soldiers. — Application  to  king 
James  respecting  this  and  other  cases  of  suffering. 

The  suppression  of  the  wicked  trade  of  the  informers, 
though  a  very  important  step,  was  far  from  closing  the 
sufferings  of  the  Society,  or  the  labours  of  many  of  its 
members,  to  obtain  complete  liberty  of  conscience. 
They  wisely  proceeded  step  by  step  in  pointing  out  their 
grievances,  and  pressing  them  one  after  another  upon 
the  notice  of  the  public,  and  of  the  highest  authorities 
of  the  land. 

Though  the  general  pardon  of  the  king  had  some 
effect  in  discouraging  persecution,  yet  it  did  not  alter 
the  law  ;  and  a  great  number  of  Friends  were  at  this 
time  severely  oppressed,  and  many  of  them  greatly  im- 
poverished, by  being  charged  or  estreated  in  the  ex- 
chequer, and  by  writs  annually  issued  out  thence 
against  them,  for  seizure  to  be  made  on  their  goods  and 
estates,  under  the  old  act  against  popish  recusants  ;  by 
which  they  were  fined  tzoerdij  pounds  a  month,  and  two- 
thirds  of  their  estates,  for  their  monthly  absence  from 
their  parish  churches ;  and  thereupon  their  corn,  cat- 
tle, and  other  goods  were  seized  by  the  bailiffs  ;  "  seiz- 
ing," says  the  memoir,  "  for  eleven  months,  twenty 
pounds  a  month,  which  amounts  to  two  hundred  and 
twenty  pounds  forfeiture  in  that  time  ;  the  sottish,  rude 
bailiffs,  when  they  had  seized  on  farmers'  goods,  re- 
maining at  their  houses,  eating  and  drinking  until  the 
goods  were  removed." 

From  the  continued  application  of  these  cruel  laws 
to  the  poor  Quakers,  who  were  the  very  antipodes  of 
the  Papists  against  whom  they  were  originally  made, 
it  is  quite  evident  that  the  spirit  of  persecution  was  still 


100  MEMOIRS    OF 

strong  in  the  country.  King  James  however,  who  had 
sheltered  the  real  objects  of  this  law,  even  more  effec- 
tually than  his  brother  had  done,  on  being  applied  to  by 
some  Friends  for  a  stay  of  proceedings,  found  it  at  least 
consist  with  his  policy  to  grant  the  request ;  and  "  was 
pleased  to  give  directions  to  the  lord  treasurer  and  at- 
torney general,  that  the  exchequer  writs  should  not  be 
issued  out  on  that  occasion."  A  respectful  petition  was 
then  drawn  up,  addressed  to  the  lord  treasurer,  pray- 
ing that  he  would  issue  his  warrant  to  the  proper  offi- 
cer, the  clerk  of  the  pipe,  for  the  staying  of  processes 
against  the  persons  named  in  a  list  subjoined,  who 
were  under  exchequer  prosecution,  and  whose  number 
amounted  to  several  liundreds.  The  lord  treasurer 
immediately  granted  the  requisite  order ;  and  George 
Whitehead  gives  tlie  following  account  of  the  subse- 
quent proceedings.* 

1  was  very  industriously  concerned,  to  obtain  such  a 
warrant  for  a  speedy  stop  to  be  put  to  the  said  process- 
es, which  were  then  ready  to  be  issued  forth  of  the  said 
pipe  ofHce  in  Grays-Inn.  I  had  something  to  do,  first 
with  the  treasurer's  deputy,  and  clerks  of  the  treasury 
chamber,  about  their  high  demands  of  fees,  which  we 
could  not  answer:  whereupon  I  made  complaint  to  the 
lord  treasurer  himself;  and  he  was  so  kind,  as  to  cause 
thenfi  considerably  to  abate  their  demands,  and  to  ac- 
cept of  what  we  could  give;  J  remember  our  friend 
Samuel  W^aldcnfield  kept  me  company  at  that  time ; 
so  the  warrant  was  delivered  to  me. 

After  this,  Rowland  Vaughan  went  with  me  to  the 
clerks  of  the  pipe,  with  our  warrant  to  stay  process, 
who  seeing  a  long  list  of  names  annexed  to  the  war- 

*  The  proceedings  in  this  and  many  similar  cases  related  in  this 
■work,  strikingly  illustrate,  by  contrasting  them  with  the  present 
state  of  things,  the  progress  which  has  been  made  in  the  adminis- 
tration of  justice,  the  establishment  of  the  constitutional  rights  of 
the  people,  and  the  diminution  or  more  careful  exercise  of  the  royal 
prerogative.  Editor. 


G.    WHITEHEAD.  101 

rant,  were  upon  very  high  demands  for  fees,  amount- 
ing to  many  hundred  pounds,  they  demanding  a  consi- 
derable fee  for  each,  which  we  could  no  ways  come 
near.  They  were  very  huffing  and  high  toward  us, 
though  we  civilly  treated  them,  threatening  if  we  did 
not  pay  them  the  fees  demanded,  that  the  writs  should 
be  issued  out  to  the  sheriffs  of  the  several  counties,  to 
seize  upon  our  Friends'  estates ;  and  to  be  sure  it 
would  be  done  to  purpose,  for,  say  they,  this  was  like  to 
be  the  last  time,  seeing  process  was  to  be  stopped ;  so 
that  if  the  writs  then  went  forth,  they  concluded  they 
would  be  the  more  severely  executed,  and  fall  heavier 
upon  the  convicted  than  ever.  Such  like  threats  were 
to  affi-ight  us  into  a  compliance  with  their  unreasonable 
demands  of  fees :  which  we  neither  would  nor  could 
do ;  whereupon  we  parted  at  that  time. 

Being  much  toiled,  weakened,  and  impaired  in  my 
health,  by  attending,  soliciting,  and  labouring  for  our 
Friends'  relief  in  that  case,  1  was  taken  suddenly  ill,  so 
that  I  was  forced  to  keep  house  a  few  days ;  yet  still 
the  burden  of  Friends'  sutlerings  lay  so  heavy  upon  my 
spirit,  and  care  to  have  them  relieved  by  a  stay  to  the 
said  process,  that  1  forthwith  sent  to  divers  Friends,  to 
let  them  knoW  how  the  case  stood  with  me,  and  how 
far  1  had  procured  and  brought  forward  the  case  of 
our  suffering  Friends,  in  order  to  their  relief  from  the 
exchequer  process;  particularly  I  sent  for  my  compan- 
ion Gilbert  Latey,  at  Kingston,  who  quickly  came  to 
London ;  and  I  acquainted  him  and  our  loving  friend 
William  Mead,  how  our  case  stood  as  to  the  clerks  of 
the  pipe  refusing  to  stay  the  process  unless  they  had 
the  fees  they  demanded;  whereupon  I  desired  the  said 
Gilbert  Latey  and  William  Mead  to  go  and  treat  with 
those  clerks,  and  see  what  they  could  bring  them  to. 
At  last  they  brought  them  so  far  to  abate  their  de- 
mands, as  to  come  down  to  those  Friends'  terms,  and 
accept  of  what  they  proffered,  that  is,  about  sixty 
pounds,  instead  of  the  many  hundreds  demanded; 
though  it  was  not  without  complaining  that  they  were 

I    2 


102  mi:moirs  of 

so  much  deprived  of  what  they  esteemed  their  proper 
fees  and  dues. 

That  stay  of  proceedings,  obtained  with  great  care 
and  industry,  prevented  the  ruin  of  some  hundreds  of 
our  suffering  Friends  in  their  respective  counties,  and 
saved  many  thousands  of  pounds  in  their  estates.  I  had 
great  peace  and  comfort  in  the  Lord,  in  that  He  made 
me  any  way  useful  in  helping  our  Friends  from  those 
heavy  persecutions  and  oppressions;  blessed  be  the 
Lord  my  God  !  who  greatly  helped  me  to  serve  Him  in 
helping  his  people. 

Another  case  of  hardship  and  suffering,  which  befel 
the  Society,  in  regard  to  two  of  their  meeting  houses, 
next  engaged  the  attention  of  this  unwearied  advocate. 
It  is  thus  stated  in  the  memoirs  : 

About  the  3rd  month,  1G85,  the  soldiers  came  and 
made  the  meeting  house  at  the  Park,  in  Southwark,  a 
guard-house,  and  did  great  spoil  and  damage  about  and 
in  the  same,  by  pulling  down  pales,  digging  and  cutting 
down  trees,  carrying  away  and  burning  them ;  and 
also  the  wainscoting  and  benches  about  the  room,  and 
they  carried  away  one  of  the  out-doors,  and  many  of 
the  casements;  and  when  the  soldiers  drew  out  to  the 
camp,  they  left  the  house  open  for  any  body.  Where- 
upon John  Potter,  the  then  owner,  entered  again,  and 
made  up  the  outward  door,  and  some  other  necessary 
repairs,  and  had  a  survey  of  the  damages  done,  which 
amounted  to  about  forty  pounds. 

The  soldiers  returning  from  the  camp,  again  possess- 
ed themselves  of  the  place,  and  kept  their  guard  there- 
in for  some  time,  in  manner  following  ;  viz.  on  the  22nd 
of  October  108G,  a  quarter-master  belonging  to  colonel 
Hailes'  regiment,  came  to  the  chambers  of  the  said 
John  Potter's  tenants,  and  demanded  entrance ;  which 
being  denied,  the  quarter-master,  with  the  help  of  sol- 
diers, broke  in,  handed  away  their  goods,  and  turned 
out  three  aged  women  to  another  house ;  and  when 
they  had  taken  possession  of  our  said  meeting  house 


6.    WHITEHEAD.  103 

and  rooms  below,  they  pulled  down  the  galleries,  and 
made  a  brick  wall  across  the  lower  room,  with  many- 
other  alterations,  as  if  they  intended  to  have  the  sole 
and  perpetual  possession  to  themselves  ;  having  made 
a  sort  of  place  for  prayers,  or  a  mass  house,  in  one  end, 
inclosed  from  the  rest  by  the  said  partition  wall ;  not- 
withstanding the  said  John  Potter,  the  owner,  showed 
his  lease  and  title  to  the  premises  several  times  to  the 
said  colonel,  and  his  quartermaster;  by  which  they 
understanding  his  right  and  title,  the  colonel  asked  him 
if  he  would  sell,  and  what  he  would  have  for  it.  But 
that  he  could  not  yield  to,  knowing  what  other  use  the 
lease  was  intended  and  used  for ;  the  low  room  being 
our  meeting  place,  he  could  not  in  good  conscience  shut 
his  Friends  out  of  the  same. 

But  being  by  force  kept  out  of  our  meeting  house 
and  property,  as  before  related,  we  had  no  other  way 
to  have  the  same  restored,  but  by  application  to  the 
king ;  and  also  for  our  meeting  place  at  the  Savoy,  in 
the  Strand.  Whereupon  myself  and  my  friend  Gilbert 
Latey  were  desired  to  attend  the  king ;  unto  which  we 
gave  up,  1  being  prepared  to  vindicate  our  property, 
especially  in  our  meeting  house  at  Park  aforesaid. 
When  we  had  sent  notice  to  the  king  of  our  desire  to 
attend  him  in  this  case,  and  that  he  would  please  to 
appoint  the  time  when,  he  granted  our  request  therein. 

On  the  1st  of  the  lOth  month,  1686,  Gilbert  Latey 
and  myself  went  to  Whitehall,  and  attended  some  time 
when  we  had  sent  word  up  to  the  king  of  our  waiting 
for  admittance.  Aflersome  time  he  came  down  to  us, 
and  the  said  colonel  Hailes  only  with  him. 

After  I  had  a  little  introduced  and  opened  our  case 
to  him,  how  our  said  meeting  house  at  Park  was  detain- 
ed from  us,  I  found  that  he  had  been  misinformed  and 
prepossessed  ;  as  if  that  meeting  house  and  others  were 
forfeited  to  him  on  the  Conventicle  act.  I  presently 
showed  him  the  mistake ;  for  by  that  act  the  owners' 
houses  where  meetings  were  held,  were  not  forfeited, 
but  they  fineable  ;  the  penalty  was  fines,  not  forfeiture 


104  MEMOIRS    OF 

of  houses  ;  and  yet,  as  I  told  him,  I  hoped  he  would  not 
take  advantage  against  us  upon  that  act,  seeing  he  had 
intimated  his  opinion  was  for  liberty  of  conscience,  from 
persecution. 

He  farther  alleged,  that  John  Potter  had  given  his 
consent  to  part  with  the  said  house  for  a  compensa- 
tion ;  as  also  the  colonel  afhrmed,  having  given  the 
king  in  his  hand  the  notes  he  had  taken  out  of  John's 
lease,  showing  the  conveyance  of  the  title  from  one  to 
another,  till  it  was  settled  on  John  Potter.  But  the 
king  told  me,  (as  the  colonel  had  informed  him,)  that 
since  John  had  assented  to  part  with  the  said  meeting 
house  for  a  compensation,  we  had  had  a  meeting  about 
it,  and  that  our  Friends  had  persuaded  John  not  to 
sell  it. 

To  all  which  I  gave  answer,  that  John  Potter  never 
appeared  of  that  mind  to  us,  as  to  sell  it.  1  farther  told 
him,  that  divers  of  our  meeting  houses  in  London  were 
seized,  and  the  broad  arrow  set  upon  the  doors,  pretend- 
edly  for  the  king,  in  the  reign  of  king  Charles  the  Second, 
and  particularly  our  meeting  house  in  Grace-church 
street ;  where  the  mayor,  &.c.  encouraged  a  priest  of 
the  Church  of  England,  to  read  their  mass  or  liturgy 
and  to  preach  ;  which  was  such  a  wonder  that  a  priest 
should  come  and  read  Common  Prayer  and  preach  in  a 
Quakers'  meeting,  that  people  did  so  numerously  gather 
and  crowd  into  and  about  the  meeting,  that  afterward  at 
another  meeting,  the  priest  came  to  be  so  alFrightcd  with 
their  crowding  and  noise,  that  he  got  away  and  forbore 
coming  again  to  read  or  preach  in  our  meeting  house. 

The  king  smiled  at  my  mentioning  their  mass,  be- 
cause I  presume  he  understood  that  the  book  of  Com- 
mon Praver  was  much  of  it  taken  out  of  his  mass  book. 

Having  taken  notes  out  of  our  Friends'  lease  of  the 
said  meeting  house  at  Park,  I  demonstrated  the  title, 
and  pleaded  the  property  against  the  said  colonel 
Hailes's  pretensions  or  claim  to  it. 

After  pretty  much  discourse  upon  this  matter,  the 
king  several  times  gave  this  answer  :  "  I  am  resolved  to 


G.    WHITEHEAD. 


105 


invade  no  man's  property  or  conscience."  And  he  told 
us,  that  he  would  look  further  into  the  title  and  inform 
himself,  but  that  at  present  he  could  not  spare  the  place 
because  of  his  guards. 

Our  friend  Gilbert  Latey  spake  also  to  the  king 
about  the  Savoy  meeting  house  ;  our  Friends  being 
there  kept  out  in  a  cold  yard,  for  many  weeks,  by  the 
guards.  Whereupon  Gilbert  requested  the  king  to 
grant  our  Friends  their  liberty  to  meet  twice  a  week ; 
it  being  winter  time,  and  hard  for  ancient  people  to 
stand  abroad  in  the  cold.  The  king  did  not  refuse  his 
request,  but  was  pleased  to  delay  it  for  a  time,  for  fur- 
ther consideration. 

However  our  solicitous  endeavours  in  God's  power 
and  counsel,  took  such  effect  upon  the  king,  that  in  a 
few  weeks  after,  he  caused  both  our  meeting  houses 
aforesaid,  viz.  at  Park  and  Savoy,  to  be  restored  to  us. 

Before  we  parted  from  the  king  that  time,  1  mention- 
ed to  him  our  Friends'  great  sufferings  in  Nottingham- 
shire and  Leicestershire,  by  Smith  the  informer,  and 
two  or  three  petty  justices  that  took  his  part ;  and  I 
entreated  two  or  three  lines  from  the  lord  Sunderland 
to  the  duke  of  Newcastle,  to  put  a  stop  to  the  said  in- 
former. The  king  freely  granted  my  request,  and  two 
or  three  times  promised  to  speak  to  the  lord  Sunderland, 
to  write  to  the  duke  of  Newcastle  for  the  same  purpose. 
After  which  one  of  the  lords  of  the  council,  at  my  de- 
sire, undertook  to  procure  a  letter  forthwith,  from  the 
earl  of  Sunderland,  pursuant  to  the  king's  promise  be- 
fore mentioned.  Our  Friends,  and  John  Edge  also,  were 
concerned  to  attend  the  result  thereof;  insomuch  that 
through  the  power  and  help  of  the  Lord  our  God,  in 
our  endeavours,  a  general  stop  to  those  persecuting 
devourers,  the  informers,  was  obtained,  to  the  great 
comfort  and  relief  of  our  suffering  Friends  throughout 
the  nation  ;  wdiom  I  was  greatly  comforted  in  serving 
to  the  utmost  of  my  ability. 

George  Whitehead  now  felt  himself  concerned  to  visit 


lOG  MEMOIRS    OF 

the  king,  to  encourage  him  in  the  good  work  he  had 
begun  in  regard  to  lil)erty  of  conscience,  and  to  intimate 
the  good  etlccts  which  he  apprehended  had  arisen  from 
it.  He  also  wished  to  lay  before  him  some  cases  of 
suffering  at  Leeds  in  Yorkshire ;  and  he  and  Gilbert 
Latey  obtained  admittance  into  the  king's  presence,  on 
the  14th  of  10th  month,  1687.  The  king  appeared 
glad  to  sec  them,  and  the  substance  of  their  discourse 
was  as  follows. 

George  Whitehead.  "  We  arc  glad  to  see  the  king, 
and  heartily  wish  the  king  health  and  happiness  and 
a  happy  and  prosperous  reign,  and  that  his  government 
may  be  easy  to  him  in  all  respects,  that  is,  to  himself 
and  the  people." 

King.  "  I  thank  you ;  and  for  your  parts,  I  believe 
well  of  you  and  your  Friends,  and  that  you  do  wish  me 
well." 

George  Whitehead.  "  I  desired  to  have  attended  the 
king  some  time  since,  but  that  a  long  journey  this  sum- 
mer into  the  north  parts  of  England,  and  some  sickness 
since,  prevented.  We  have  daily  cause  to  bless  God 
for  the  mercy  we  enjoy  under  the  king,  as  being  made 
instrumental  in  the  hand  of  God  therein,  and  daily  to 
pray  for  the  king's  preservation. 

"In  this  late  journey  1  have  been  as  far  as  Cumber- 
land, and  other  parts  of  the  north  of  England,  and  find 
the  good  clfccts  of  the  king's  declaration  for  liberty  of 
conscience,  and  how  well  it  is  received  by  all  good  peo- 
ple, by  all  who  are  sober,  moderate,  and  rational." 

King.  "  It  is  well  received  by  all  good  Christians  I 
am  sure." 

George.  Whitehead.  "  And  I  find  persons  of  under- 
standing and  quality,  do  commend  the  king's  prudence 
and  conduct  therein.  And  many  innocent  families,  who 
have  been  sorely  distressed  by  the  late  persecutions  and 
hardships  they  have  been  long  under,  have  received 
such  relief  through  the  king's  clemency,  that  they  tind 
cause  daily  to  pray  for  the  king ;  and  to  him  may  justly 
apply  the  words  of  that  just  man  Job,  in  this  case,  re- 


G.    WHITEHEAD.  107 

speciing  the  justness  of  his  proceeding,  and  to  say  of 
the  king :  '  Thou  liast  broken  the  jaws  of  the  wicked, 
and  plucked  the  spoil  out  of  his  teeth.'  Job  xxix.  17. 
And  farther,  that  by  thy  declaration  for  liberty  of  con- 
science, thou  hast  yielded  submission  to  the  great  God, 
and  granted  and  given  to  Him  his  due  therein,  namely, 
that  God  may  rule  and  bear  sway  in  men's  consciences, 
whose  sovereign  right  it  is  to  reign  and  bear  rule  there- 
in :  <  And  when  the  Lord  reigns,  let  the  earth  rejoice ; 
and  when  the  evil  beasts  of  prey  are  made  to  cease  out 
of  the  land,  the  earth  shall  yield  her  increase :'  accord- 
ing as  God's  holy  prophets  have  testified." 

Kin^.     "  It  is  very  true." 

George  Whitehead.  "  Let  liberty  of  conscience  be 
vindicated  or  maintained,  and  the  good  eifects  thereof 
will  appear  more  and  more,"  &c. 

King.  "  I  am  resolved  to  maintain  it  as  long  as  I 
live,  and  make  it  as  firm  as  a  magna  charta,  and  more 
firm,  if  possible ;  that  it  may  remain  for  the  benefit  of 
future  ages,  and  that  posterity  may  not  have  cause  to 
alter  it." 

George  Whitehead.  "  Whenever  the  king  shall  please 
to  call  a  parliament,  we  do  heartily  wish  it  may  be 
such  a  parliament  as  may  concur  with  the  king's 
clemency,  according  to  his  declaration  for  liberty  of 
conscience,  and  confirm  it  by  a  law  ;*  and  for  our  parts, 
I  hope  we  shall  contribute  our  endeavours,  so  far  as 
argument  and  reason  will  go,  or  may  prevail,  to  per- 
suade them  to  confirm  it  and  give  it  the  sanction  of  law, 
and  repeal  those  penal  laws  which  are  against  that 
liberty." 

King.  "  You  have  a  right  to  election  of  members  of 
parliament :  I  would  have  your  Friends  to  have  a  care, 
that  they  do  not  give  their  voices  for  such  that  are 
against  liberty  of  conscience." 

George  Whitehead.     "  It  concerns  us  all  to  have  a 

'*  This  was  on  occasion  of  something  spoken  by  the  king,  in  a 
former  discourse  to  the  same  purpose. 


108  MEMOIRS    OP 

care  of  that ;  it  is  certain  there  can  be  no  free  parlia- 
ment, upon  a  general  and  free  election,  whilst  the  oaths 
of  suprennacy  and  allegiance  and  tests,  are  made  the 
qualifications  of  all  members  of  parliament;  for  such 
qualifications  admit  none  to  be  members  of  parliament, 
but  such  as  are  strict  Churchmen  for  conformity. 
Whereas  a  mixt  or  more  equally  chosen  parliament,  are 
most  likely  to  consider  all  interests,  and  to  establish  li- 
berty of  conscience;  which  those  penal  laws  allow 
not." 

King.  "  Those  laws  and  qualifications  are  against 
property,  and  destructive  to  it,"  &c. 

George  JVhilehead.  "  By  a  mixed  parliament  I  meant, 
consisting  of  Dissenters  and  of  such  Churchmen  as  are 
against  persecution  ;  as  the  grand  jury  at  Hertford  as- 
sizes, who  stopped  all  the  presentments  against  dissen- 
ters for  twenty  pounds  a  month,  some  time  before  the 
king's  declaration  for  liberty  of  conscience  came  forth. 
This  mixed  grand  jury  appeared  a  fit  instance  or  ex- 
ample, as  1  thought,  in  this  case  relating  to  a  free  par- 
liament," &c. 

King.  "  You  know  when  1  was  duke  of  York,  how 
envious  many  were  against  me,  and  how  monstrously 
they  pictured  mc  in  their  pamphlets,  to  render  me  odi- 
ous to  the  nation,  and  what  a  dangerous  successor  I 
should  be,  &c. ;  but  in  point  of  Christianity,  I  freely 
forgive  them  all." 

George  JVhitehead.  "  That  is  a  great  point  of  Chris- 
tianity and  charity  indeed,  freely  to  forgive  injuries,  and 
is  generous  and  noble;  and  I  am  truly  glad  to  hear  so 
much  from  the  king.  It  is  true  the  duke  of  York  was 
such  a  formidable  person  in  the  thoughts  of  many,  that 
they  greatly  feared  and  were  jealous  of  his  succeeding: 
but  now,  since  come  to  the  crown,  he  has  given  such 
open  demonstration  of  his  clemency  and  good  will  to 
the  people,  as  has  convinced  many  of  their  mistake 
therein,  and  given  them  cause  to  lay  aside  their  former 
fears  and  jealousies  of  that  kind." 

King.     "  I  was  always  of  the  same  judgment  for  li- 


O.    WHITEUEAD.  109 

berty  of  conscience,  thai  now  1  have  declared  publicly. 
I  remember  when,  about  twenty  years  ago  or  above,  1 
was  at  Tunbridge,  though  1  never  drank  the  waters, 
there  was  one  Owen,  John  Owen,  a  dissenter,*  who  had 
a  mind  to  speak  with  me,  but  was  or  seemed  something 
bashful  or  fearful  of  coming  to  me,  until  some  acquaint- 
ed me  therewith  ;  and  then  I  gave  him  liberty  to  come 
and  speak  with  me,  and  told  him  my  opinion,  that  it 
was  for  liberty  of  conscience  as  I  have  now  declared," 
&c. 

George  Whitehead.  "  I  have  heard  as  much  a  great 
while  ago,  from  Edward  Waller,  Esq.  who  is  lately  dead; 
he  signified  to  the  same  purpose,  concerning  the  duke 
of  York's  being  of  that  opinion  for  liberty  of  conscience, 
long  since,"  &c. 

Gilbtrt  Latey.  "  That  which  the  king  has  signified 
secretly  he  has  now  declared  openly,  to  the  comforting 
the  hearts  of  many  thousands,  who  truly  bless  God  for 
the  king's  kindnesses,  and  return  hearty  thanks  to  the 
king  for  the  same ;  and  for  all  the  kindnesses  thou  hast 
shown  to  us,  the  Lord  reward  thee,  and  return  thee  a 
thousand  fold  into  thy  own  bosom." 

Kxng.  "  I  thank  you  heartily." 

George  Whitehead.  "I  have  one  particular  case  from 
Leeds  in  Yorkshire,  which  our  Friends  desired  me  to 
acquaint  the  king  withal ;  and  that  is,  the  magistrates 
of  Leeds,  in  the  late  persecutions,  were  more  severe  to 
our  Friends  than  any  magistrates  in  all  the  county  of 
York  besides.  At  Leeds,  they  have  not  only  imprison- 
ed them  and  endeavoured  to  banish  them  out  of  the  land, 
having  prosecuted  them  in  order  to  banishment,  on  the 
statute  of  the  13th  and  14th  of  the  late  king,  which 
extends  to  imprisonment  and  transportation,  but  also 

♦  Dr.  Owen.  The  king  little  thought  that  in  the  company  of 
this  one  Owen,  he  conversed  with  a  man  whose  name  would  stand 
much  higher  in  the  respectful  remembrance  of  posterity  than  his 
own,  and  whose  writings  were  likely  to  be  read  with  interest,  so 
long  as  the  English  language  remained  to  be  the  vehicle  of  Chris- 
tian instruction.  Editor. 
VOL.    11.                                                K 


110  MEMOIRS    OF 

they  took  away  their  goods  from  their  reHgious  meetings, 
and  do  still  keep  the  goods  of  one  person  or  more  unsold, 
and  refuse  to  restore  the  goods  to  the  respective  ow- 
ner or  owners  when  desired  by  our  Friends  concern- 
ed. Wherefore  we  entreat  the  king  to  speak  to  the 
lord  president,  to  write  two  or  three  lines  to  the  mayor 
and  alderman  of  Leeds,  to  cause  them  to  restore  the 
goods  to  the  respective  owners."  And  thereupon 
George  Whitehead  delivered  the  case  in  writing  to  the 
king. 

King.  "  I'll  do  it ;  I'll  speak  to  my  lord  Sunderland 
to  write  as  you  desire."  Which  accordingly  he  did, 
and  an  order  was  the  next  day  taken  out  for  restitution 
of  the  said  goods. 

George  Whitehead.  "  We  thankfully  acknowledge  the 
king's  kindness  in  this  case  also,"  &c. 

Gilbert  Laleij.  "  We  pray  God  reward  the  king  into 
his  bosom,  for  all  his  favours  and  kindnesses,  and  grant 
him,  if  it  be  His  will,  long  life  and  a  happy  reign  here, 
and  a  crown  of  immortal  glory  hereafter." 

George  Whitehead.     "  We  sincerely  desire  it,"  &,c. 

King.     "  1  thank  you  heartily." 


The  liberty  given  by  king  James  II.  to  his  dissenting 
subjects  was,  in  the  year  1G87,  confirmed  by  a  general 
declaration  for  liberty  of  conscience  ;  by  which  free 
leave  was  given  to  all  to  meet  and  serve  God  after 
their  own  way  and  manner,  whether  in  private  houses 
or  places  purposely  provided  for  that  use  ;  and  all  man- 
ner of  penal  laws  in  matters  ecclesiastical,  for  not  com- 
ing to  Church,  or  any  other  nonconformity  to  the 
established  religion,  were  suspended  by  the  king's  sole 
authority.  Although  in  this  declaration  the  king  ex- 
presses his  wish,  that  all  his  subjects  were  members  of 
the  Catholic  Church,  yet  he  says  : 

"  We  humbly  thank  Almighty  God,  it  is  and  hath  of 

long  time  been  our  constant  sense  and  opinion,  which 

upon  divers  occasions  we  have  declared,  that  conscience 

ought  not  to  be  constrained,  nor  people  forced  in  mat- 


G.    WHITEHEAD.  Ill 

tersof  mere  religion  :  it  has  ever  been  directly  contrary 
to  our  inclination,  as  we  think  it  is  to  the  interest  of  gov- 
ernment ;  which  it  destroys  by  spoiling  trade,  depopu- 
lating countries,  and  discouraging  strangers;  and, 
finally,  that  it  never  obtained  the  end  for  which  it  was 
employed." 

George  Whitehead  appears  to  have  placed  confi- 
dence in  the  king's  sincerity  ;  and  perhaps  he  also 
thought,  if  the  king  succeeded  in  gaining  admission  for 
many  of  his  Romish  friends  to  offices  even  in  the  Estab- 
lished Church,  that  lie  would  be  able  to  support  his 
views  in  regard  to  liberty  of  conscience,*  "  As  for  us," 
he  says,  "  the  people  commonly  called  Q-uakers,  and 
our  ministers,  having  no  such  revenues  as  tithes,  hire, or 
wages  for  preaching  to  lose,  our  Gospel  being  free,  we 
were  not  so  afraid  of  popery  or  a  popish  prince  and 
clergy,  as  those  who  enjoy  those  great  revenues  which 
the  popish  Church  and  priesthood  claim,  and  would 
gladly  possess. 

"The  king  having  often  seriously  declared  liberty  of 
conscience  to  be  his  principle  and  persuasion,  and  we 
who  had  long  deeply  suffered  partaking  thereof,  espe- 
cially in  the  latter  part  of  his  reign,  had  great  reason 
to  be  the  more  easv  and  thankful  that  we  had  some 


*  It  had  been  too  obvious  that  the  name  of  a  protestant  estab- 
lishment  was  no  security  asfainst  one  of  the  worst  features  of  pope- 
ry— persecution  ;  and  had  the  king  succeeded  in  liis  wishes,  it  is 
highly  probable  tliat,  in  the  state  of  parties,  he  could  have  support- 
ed himself  only  by  a  general  toleration  of  his  protestant  subjects  ; 
it  was  not,  at  any  rate,  surprizing,  that  those  who  had  suffered  so 
severely  under  the  protestant  establishment,  should  take  tiiis  view 
of  the  subject,  and  perhaps  underrate  the  danger  which  attended 
the  king's  designs.  There  is  no  doubt  however,  that  many  mem- 
bers of  the  Society,  at  that  time,  viewed  with  serious  alarm  the 
consequences  to  the  country  of  the  establishment  o??i  popish  prince 
and  clergy,  and  wlio  sincerely  hailed  thit  ever  memorable  provi- 
dence, by  which  the  truly  protestant  VVilliaui  and  Mary  were  plac- 
ed without  bloodshed  on  the  throne  of  England.  To  their  reign, 
as  Besse  remarks  in  the  preface  to  his  book  of  Quaker  Sufferings, 
"  was  reserved  the  glory  of  establishing  to  protestant  dissenters,  a 
general  liberty  of  conscience  in  religious  worship."  Editor. 


112  MEMOIRS,    «kc. 

relief  from  those  extreme  hardships  we  had  long  suffer- 
ed under. 

"  Howbcit,  the  king's  aforesaid  declaration  not  hav- 
ing the  sanction  of  an  act  of  parliament  for  confirmation 
and  continuance,  we  did  not  think  our  liberty  secured 
to  us  thcreb}^  any  more  than  it  was  under  the  reign  of 
his  brother,  king  Charles  the  Second,  but  uncertain  and 
precarious  as  it  was  before  ;  when  we  had  only  that 
king's  specious  promises  and  declarations,  which  lasted 
but  a  little  while,  and  were  soon  made  void  by  the 
parliament  and  himself,  and  the  many  persecutors  let 
loose  upon  us  again,  because  the  same  liberty  granted 
was  not  passed  into  a  law." 

George  Whitehead  does  not  think  it  his  business  to 
treat  of  the  particular  causes  of  the  king's  removal 
from  the  throne  ;  they  are,  says  he,  "  matters  of  state 
and  government."  lie  piously  refers  the  whole  affair 
to  the  counsels  of  "  the  Divine  Majesty,  the  Searcher 
of  Hearts,  by  whom  the  intentions  and  designs  of  men 
and  princes  are  foreseen  and  known,  who  rules  over 
the  kingdoms  of  men  and  gives  them  to  whomsoever 
He  will," 


(  113  ) 


SECTION  XVIII. 

Proceedings  in  the  reign  of  William  and  Mary — Respecting  the  act 
of  toleration. — The  case  of  Friends  suffering  for  contempts,  &c. 
— The  obtaining  of  an  act  for  the  admission  of  the  solemn  affir- 
mation of  Friends  instead  of  an  oath. 

George  Whitehead  introduces  his  account  of  his  own 
and  his  Friends'  proceedings  in  tiie  early  part  of  the 
reign  of  William  and  Mary,  with  the  following  review. 


The  great  and  merciful  providence  of  the  Lord  God 
Almighty  towards  us  his  people,  is  worthy  to  be  for  ever 
remembered.  He  gave  us  not  over  to  the  will  of  our 
enemies,  who  often  breathed  out  cruelty  against  us, 
threatening  our  ruin  and  desolation  ;  blessed  be  our 
God !  who  hath  frustrated  their  cruel  designs  and  re- 
strained the  remainder  of  their  wrath,  and  contrary 
thereunto  hath  carried  on  his  own  work  and  prospered 
the  same,  to  his  own  praise  and  his  people's  comfort ; 
causing  all  to  work  together  for  good,  to  all  them  who 
truly  love  his  Name  and  Power :  blessed  for  ever  be  the 
same ! 

Although  for  the  space  of  about  twenty-five  years, 
from  1660  to  1084,  we  had  but  small  respite  from  some 
kind  o(  persecution  or  other,  notwithstanding  the  liberty 
of  conscience  so  often  promised  and  declared  from  the 
throne;  yet  the  Truth  lost  no  ground,  but  gained 
through  all.  The  persecution  time  was  a  seed  time, 
for  the  Truth  and  Gospel  of  Christ  Jesus  which  we 
suffered  for,  and  the  faithful  grew  and  multiplied.  The 
good  seed  of  the  Gospel  being  sown  and  planted,  the 
same  increased  and  spread  even  in  those  suffering  times, 
which  neither  the  devil  nor  his  instruments  could  ever 
root  out.  That  Divine  Presence  attended  us  in  our 
many  deep  sufferings,  which  reached  and  tenderly  af- 

K  2 


114  MEMOIRS  OF 

fected  many  hearts  and  souls,  as  they  beheld  and  ob- 
served the  patience  and  innocence  wherein  the  Lord 
sustained  us  in  our  many  trials  and  sufferings,  whereby 
many  were  not  only  moved  with  compassion  to  us,  but 
also  to  enquire  after  the  Lord  and  his  Truth,  the  cause 
for  which  we  patiently  suffered.  As  the  more  Israel 
was  afflicted  and  oppressed  under  Pharaoh  in  Egypt, 
the  more  they  multiplied  and  grew ;  so  as  the  Lord's 
people  have  been  persecuted  and  oppressed  in  this 
Gospel  day,  the  more  their  number  has  increased  and 
they  multiplied;  wherein  still  the  merciful  providence 
of  Almighty  God  has  appeared,  to  frustrate  the  evil 
designs  of  ungodly  persecutors  and  wicked  men. 

And  moreover,  it  is  very  remarkable  and  memor- 
able, how  the  Lord  God  by  his  wisdom  and  power  has 
appeared  and  wrought  for  his  people,  in  gradually 
making  way  for  that  liberty  of  conscience  so  greatly 
laboured  for;  insomuch  that  the  understandings  of  ma- 
ny in  outward  government,  even  of  the  supreme  in  au- 
thority, have  been  so  far  enlightened,  as  to  see  that 
liberty  fiom  persecution  is  not  only  most  equal  and  con- 
sistent with  a  Christian  spirit  and  temper,  but  also  with 
their  own  safety  and  the  peace  of  the  government  and 
nation.  Yea,  1  have  heard  it  declared  by  a  great  per- 
son of  the  Church  of  England,  as  in  the  name  or  person 
of  the  Church,  viz.  "  Neither  we  nor  you  are  safe  with- 
out the  toleration."  And  many  that  have  formerly 
had  a  hand  in  persecution,  are  now  willing  that  former 
sin  of  theirs  should  be  covered,  that  they  may  be  es- 
teemed sincere  for  liberty  of  conscience  against  perse- 
cution. Others,  even  j)ersons  of  note,  have  gloried  and 
seemed  to  rejoice,  in  that  they  never  had  a  hand  in 
persecution,  nor  signed  a  warrant  against  any  of  us  ;  it 
being  generally,  by  men  ingenuous  and  sober,  deemed 
scandalous,  or  a  brand  of  infamy,  to  be  accounted  a 
persecutor. 

Hitherto  then  as  the  Lord  our  God  hath  been  gra- 
ciously pleased  to  help  us  through  many  deep  sulferings, 
hardships,  and  trials,  lie  hath  also  been  at  work  in  the 


G.    WHITEHEAD.  115 

hearts  of  men  in  power;  and  in  order  to  give  his 
churches  among  us  rest,  He  prepared  the  heart  of  the 
government,  after  the  revolution,  to  allow  us  the  sanc- 
tion of  a  law  for  our  liberty,  together  with  other  dis- 
senting protestants,  respecting  our  religious  exercise  in 
our  public  assemblies. 

And  therefore  now  1  may  give  some  brief  account 
of  the  said  act,  and  how  1  and  others  of  our  Friends 
were  concerned  about  the  same.  It  commonly  goes  by 
the  title  of  "  The  Act  of  Toleration  ;"  but  the  real  title 
is,  "  An  Act  for  exempting  their  majesties'  Protestant 
subjects,  dissenting  from  the  Church  of  England,  from 
the  penalties  of  certain  laws."  Anno  primo  Gulielma 
&.  Marias. 

The  preamble  is,  viz.  "  Forasmuch  as  some  ease  to 
scrupulous  consciences,  in  the  exercise  of  religion,  may 
be  an  effectual  means  to  unite  their  majesties'  pro- 
testant  subjects  in  interest  and  affection,  be  it  enact- 
ed,^' &c. 

This  act  contains  much  of  the  substance,  and  divers 
clauses  of  the  bill,  entitled,  ''  A  bill  of  ease  to  all  Pro- 
testant Dissenters ;"  which  was  endeavoured  to  have 
been  passed  by  the  parliament  in  king  Charles  the  Se- 
cond's time,  1G80  and  1681,  but  not  effected  either  in 
his  reign,  or  in  his  brother's  succeeding,  as  before  re- 
lated. 

After  a  bill  was  brought  into  the  parliament  in  order 
to  the  aforesaid  act,  entitled,  '<  An  Act  for  exempting 
their  majesties'  protestant  subjects,"  &c. ;  divers  of  our 
Friends,  with  myself,  had  great  care  and  concern  upon 
our  minds,  that  it  might  be  effectual  and  clear,  without 
being  clogged  or  perplexed  with  any  snare  in  it ;  so  that 
we  might  be  truly  eased  from  persecution,  and  our  reli- 
gious liberties  be  uninterrupted. 

Some  of  the  terms  in  the  said  bill,  required  of  pro- 
testant dissenters  to  prove  themselves  Christians,  were, 
viz.  '*  That  all  such  who  profess  faith  in  God  the  Fa- 
ther, and  in  Jesus  Christ  his  Eternal  Son,  the  true  God, 
and  in  the  Holy  Spirit,  coequal  with  the  Father  and 


116  MEMOIRS    OF 

the  Son,  one  God,  blessed  for  ever  :  and  do  acknowledge 
the  Holy  Scriptures  of  the  Old  and  New  Testament,  to 
be  the  revealed  will  and  word  of  God." 

Although  we  knew  when  the  parliament  had  thus 
granted  liberty  of  conscience  to  dissenting  protestants, 
in  religious  exercise,  grounded  upon  this  or  the  like 
reason,  namely,  for  the  increase  of  Charity  among 
Christians,  and  that  no  person  or  persons  professing  the 
protestant  religion,  although  dissenting  from  the  Church 
of  England,  should  be  disquieted  or  called  in  question 
for  the  same,  that  it  was  very  fair  and  plausible  :  yet 
to  prevent  any  such  from  being  stumbled  or  ensnared 
by  some  expressions  in  the  aforesaid  profession  or  creed 
which  appeared  unscriptural  in  the  ^aid  bill,  we,  in- 
stead thereof,  did  propose  and  humbly  ofler,  as  our  own 
real  belief  of  the  Deity  of  the  Father,  Son,  and  Holy 
Ghost,  viz.  "  1  profess  faith  in  God  the  Father,  and  in 
Jesus  Christ  his  Eternal  Son,  the  true  God,  and  in  the 
Holy  Spirit,  one  God,  blessed  for  ever  :  and  do  acknow- 
ledge the  Holy  Scriptures  of  the  Old  and  New  Testa- 
ment, to  be  given  by  Divine  Inspiration." 

This  declaration  John  Vaughton  and  I  delivered  to 
Sir  Thomas  Clergis,  who,  with  some  others,  were  de- 
sirous we  should  give  in  such  confession  of  our  Christian 
belief,  that  we  might  not  lie  under  the  unjust  imputa- 
tion of  being  no  Christians,  nor  thereby  be  deprived  of 
the  benefit  of  the  intended  law  for  our  religious  liberty. 
We  were  therefore  of  necessity  put  upon  oifering  the 
said  confession,  it  being  also  our  known  professed  prin- 
ciple, sincerely  to  confess  Christ  the  Son  of  the  Living 
God,  his  Divinity,  and  as  He  is  the  Eternal  AVord ;  and 
that  the  Three  which  bear  record  in  heaven,  the  Fa- 
ther, the  Word,  and  the  Holy  Ghost,  are  One :  One 
Divine  Being,  One  God,  blessed  for  ever. 

Moreover,  the  said  Sir  Thomas  Clergis,  being  satis- 
fied with  our  confession  aforesaid,  delivered  unto  him, 
moved  for  the  same  before  a  grajid  committee  of  the 
whole  house  of  conmions,  mentioning  some  of  our  names 
from  whom  he  had  the  said  confession  ;  whereupon  we 


G.    WHITEHEAD.  117 

were  called  into  the  house,  and  some  other  Friends,  as 
William  Mead  and  John  Osgood,  that  the  committee 
might  have  our  confession  from  ourselves,  and  the  par- 
liament be  the  better  satisfied  therewith  in  hearing  us  : 
so  that  I  had  then  occasion  to  answer  the  committee 
very  clearly  arid  to  their  satisfaction,  both  as  to  our 
really  owning  the  Deity,  and  the  Holy  Scriptures  of 
the  Old  and  New  Testament  as  given  forth  by  Divine 
Inspiration.  The  last  being  most  in  question,  we  gave 
them  such  plain  and  clear  satisfaction,  both  as  to  the 
holy  doctrine  contained  in  the  Scriptures  of  the  Old  and 
New  Testament,  and  to  the  historical  parts  thereof,  as 
being  preserved  by  Divine  Providence  to  us,  that  I 
clearly  perceived  our  confession  and  testimony  had  such 
influence  and  effect  upon  the  spirit  of  the  parliament, 
that  it  made  for  the  furtherance  of  the  said  bill,  in  order 
to  bring  it  into  an  act. 

Some  of  the  members  would  have  had  it  made  but 
a  temporary  act,  for  three  years ;  in  which  1  opposed 
them,  and  showed  the  unreasonableness  of  such  a  limi- 
tation of  our  religious  liberty,  urging  that  it  ought  to 
be  perpetual  So  after  much  labour  and  attending  on 
our  parts,  the  bill  was  passed. 

Although  under  the  early  reign  of  king  William  the 
Third,  we  had  so  far  obtained  liberty  by  law,  as  to  en- 
joy our  religious  meetings  for  the  worship  of  God  peace- 
ably ;  yet  there  remained  many  of  our  Friends  prison- 
ers, and  under  prosecution  by  priests  and  others,  for 
nonpayment  of  tithes,  and  many  of  them  detained  in 
prisons,  chiefly  upon  contempts,  as  their  term  is,  for 
not  answering  upon  oath  to  the  priests'  bills  and 
plaints,  &.C. 

These  cases  being  considered  among  us,  after  I  had 
impartially  stated  and  drawn  them  up,  our  Friends 
agreed  to  have  them  presented  to  the  king,  that  he 
might  both  understand  their  cases  and  suffering,  for 
not  paying  tithes  and  not  swearing. 

Our  Friends  thereupon  desiring  me  to  present  the 
case  to  the  king,  and  to  take  with  me  three  or  four  of 


118  MEMOIRS  OP 

our  Friends  whom  I  pleased,  that  were  free  thereto,  1 
accepted  of  that  service ;  being  always  willing  to  serve 
and  help  sutTering  Friends,  as  1  had  been  in  the  two 
king's  reigns  before,  according  to  my  ability,  and  as  the 
Lord  was  pleased  to  enable  me. 

Whereupon  1  desired  my  ancient  companion  in  soli- 
citation, Gilbert  Latey,  with  Thomas  Lower  the  doc- 
tor, John  Taylor  of  York,  my  late  brother-in-law,  and 
our  friend  Daniel  Quare,  to  accompany  me  to  the  king. 
Daniel  Quarc,  being  known  to  the  king,  which  the  rest 
of  us  then  were  not,  we  sent  him  in  to  procure  our  ac- 
cess into  his  presence.  The  king  enquired  of  him 
"  who  we  were,  and  in  what  station  or  places  among 
our  people  ?'  Daniel  told  him,  "  We  were  ministers 
and  elders  among  us." 

The  king  then  sent  for  us  into  a  little  private  apart- 
ment, where  he  was  alone,  and  I  presented  our  case, 
which  I  desired  him  Awourably  to  accept:  which  he 
did.  He  enquired  of  us,  what  places  we  belonged  to, 
or  to  what  congregations  we  did  minister?  Which 
gave  me  good  occasion  to  answer  him,  "  that  we  were 
not  settled  as  ministers  or  pastors  over  any  particular 
congregations,  but  visited  our  Friends'  meetings  in  di- 
vers places,  as  the  Lord  inclined  us;  for  we  do  not 
make  a  gain  of  our  ministry;  we  do  not  take  stipenfls 
or  hire  for  preaching ;  but  preach  the  Gospel  freely, 
according  to  Christ's  command  to  his  ministers;  '  Free- 
ly ye  have  received,  freely  give,'  (fcc."  The  king  gave 
no  reply,  but  appeared  very  serious,  and  satisfied  with 
my  answer. 

I  proffered  to  read  our  case  to  him  ;  he  said,  "  Nay, 
he  would  read  it  himself;"  seeming  rather  willing  to 
hear  us  in  discourse,  than  read  at  that  time. 

I  thereupon  acquainted  him,  that  the  chief  of  our 
Friends'  sufferings  then  was,  because  they  cannot  make 
their  answers  to  the  priest's  suits  for  tithes  upon  oath, 
which  for  conscience  sake  they  refused  in  any  case  ; 
and  no  less  for  conscience'  sake  do  they  refuse  the  pay- 
ment of  tithes,  whereby  the  priests  take  great  advan- 


G.    WHITEHEAD.  119 

tage  against  our  Friends,  to  run  them  to  contempts  and 
imprisonments,  and  to  make  seizures  upon  their  goods 
and  estates,  &c.  wherefore  we  had  applied  to  the  par- 
liament for  reHef  in  the  case  of  oaths,  that  they  might 
not  be  imposed  upon  us  in  any  case;  we  offering  to 
submit  to  the  penalty  of  perjury,  in  case  any  of  us 
were  found  false  or  corrupt  in  our  evidence  or  testimo- 
nies given  without  oath.  But  our  application  to  the 
parliament  had  not  taken  eflfect  as  desired,  it  being 
sometimes  prorogued  or  otherwise  dismissed,  before  we 
could  get  our  case  through  both  houses. 

This  our  case  of  conscience  in  refusing  to  swear,  I 
told  the  king,  was  the  same  with  the  people's  called 
Menists  in  the  Low  Countries,  as  it  was  a  matter  of 
conscience  to  them  ;  to  whom  his  predecessors  gave  li- 
berty that  their  word,  in  attesting  the  truth  in  courts, 
&c.  might  be  accepted  instead  of  an  oath,  which  is 
what  we  desire  ;  and  therefore  when  we  might  see  it  a 
season  to  apply  again  to  the  parliament  for  relief  in  this 
case,  1  desired  the  king  to  stand  our  friend,  and  favour- 
ably to  recommend  our  case  to  some  leading  members 
of  parliament ;  which  he  seriously  promised  he  would 
do. 

And  accordingly  he  did  perform  his  promise,  as  we 
had  account  from  some  of  the  friendly  members  of  par- 
liament; one  of  whom  in  particular  told  me,  he  was 
present  with  the  king  and  one  of  the  house  of  lords, 
and  heard  them  discourse  about  the  Quakers  ;  and  how 
the  king  pleaded  on  their  behalf,  contrary  to  some  ob- 
jections that  lord  made  against  them;  which  were, 
that  they  were  disaffected  to  the  government.  And 
that  the  king  answered  him  :  "My  lord,  I  am  not  of 
your  opinion  ;  for  there  is  an  honest  people  among 
them."  This  much  the  said  member,  Sir  John  Austin, 
told  me. 

I  also  remember  in  the  discourse  I  had  with  the 
king,  when  I  answered  him  in  several  things  before 
mentioned,  relating  to  our  conscience  and  Christian 
testimony,  he  made  this  objection,  viz. :  "  You  are  a 


120  MEMOIRS    OF 

divided  people."  I  told  him  :  "No  ;  as  we  are  a  peo- 
ple we  are  not  divided,  hut  in  union:  although  there 
are  sonrie  who  have  separated  or  gone  out  from  us,  and 
therefore  are  not  of  us,  as  there  were  of  old  some  who 
separated  and  went  out  from  the  primitive  Christians ; 
yet  we  remain  a  people  in  unity,  that  is,  of  the  same 
faith  and  profession."  To  which  our  friend  John  Tay- 
lor added  ;  "  Such  as  turned  into  separation  or  division 
from  us,  were  some  disorderly  persons,  who  therefore 
were  denied  by  us :"  or  to  that  very  effect.  And  I 
farther  added  :  "That  I  had  known  the  people  called 
Quakers  from  the  first ;  and,  as  a  people,  they  were 
still  the  same  as  to  faith  and  principles,  which  allows 
rot  of  division  or  separation." 

The  king  replied  to  this  efTect,  viz.:  "But  some 
among  you  are  disalfected  to  the  government." 

1  answered:  "  It  is  a  hard  matter  for  us  to  enter  in- 
to the  private  affections  of  persons,  without  some  overt 
act ;  we  do  not  know  that  any  of  our  Friends  have 
manifested  disaflcction  to  the  government  ;  for  if  we 
did  certainly  know  that  any  of  those  in  communion  with 
us,  should  by  any  overt  act,  in  word  or  deed,  show  any 
disaffection  to  the  present  government,  we  should  cer- 
tainly disown  them  therein,  and  give  testimony  against 
them.  It  is  true,  we  have  of  late  been  aspersed,  and 
misrepresented  with  such  nicknames  as  Meadites  and 
Pennites,  as  if  we  set  up  sect-masters  among  us:  yet 
we  own  no  such  thing;  but  Christ  Jesus  to  be  our  on- 
ly Master,  as  we  are  a  Christian  society  and  people." 
The  king  ai)peared  well  satisfied  with  my  answer,  and 
with  the  rest  of  our  discourse ;  being  very  serious  in 
his  attention  to  the  matters  proposed  unto  him. 

I  must  confess  I  had  very  great  satisfaction  and  free- 
dom of  spirit,  to  open  divers  weighty  matters  relating 
to  our  principles  and  testimony  ;  and  I  had  therein  the 
more  freedom,  because  he  was  seriously  attentive  to 
hear  and  receive  information  concerning  us. 

Near  the  conclusion  I  proposed  to  the  king,  that  in- 
asmuch as  the  Lord  keeper,  viz.   the   lord  Somers, 


G.    WHITEHEAD.  121 

knew  the  laws,  and  how  far  the  king  might  safely  ex- 
tend his  prerogative,  particularly  in  the  case  we  had 
delivered,  if  he  pleased  we  would  deliver  him  a  copy 
thereof,  that  he  might  be  the  better  prepared  to  give 
advice  in  our  case,  what  way  the  king  might  release 
our  Friends,  who  were  prisoners  upon  contempts,  as  set 
forth  in  the  said  case.  The  king  answered :  "  You 
may  deliver  it,  (that  is,  a  copy,)  to  him  ;  for  I'll  speak 
with  my  lord  keeper  about  it."  After  our  humble  and 
grateful  acknowledgment  of  the  king's  kindness  to  us, 
and  our  suffering  Friends,  we  withdrew. 

The  next  day,  or  soon  after  we  had  been  with  the 
king,  our  friend  John  Edge  went  with  me  to  the  said 
lord  keeper,  with  a  copy  of  the  case,  which  I  thus  in- 
troduced when  I  gave  it :  1  told  him  we  had  presented 
the  case  to  the  king,  and  having  heard  a  good  charac- 
ter of  thyself,  (I  being  then  little  acquainted  with  him,) 
we  made  bold  to  mention  thee  to  the  king  for  counsel 
in  this  case,  how  our  Friends  who  are  prisoners  upon 
contempts  might  be  released ;  and  the  king  told  us,  he 
would  speak  with  the  lord  keeper  about  it. 

The  lord  keeper  took  it  kindly,  showing  not  only  his 
own  desire  our  suffering  Friends  should  be  released 
and  enjoy  their  liberties,  but  also  freely  signified  to  us, 
that  the  king  was  really  for  liberty  of  conscience  to 
dissenters,  and  that  it  was  his  real  principle ;  which 
we  were  very  glad  to  hear  from  him,  being  a  person  of 
honour  and  credit. 


In  a  very  short  time  after  the  case  of  the  suffering 
Friends  had  been  presented  to  the  king  and  lord  keep- 
er, there  came  out  an  act  of  grace,  in  the  year  1G95, 
pardoning  contempts,  &,c.  whereupon  about  forty  of 
our  Friends  were  discharged  out  of  the  prisons. 

Though  the  prisoners  were  then  set  free,  the  laws 
by  which  they  had  suffered  remained  in  force,  and 
would  doubtless  soon  have  supplied  the  prisons  again, 
if  succ€;ssful  means  had  not  been  used  to  obtain  a  law 
by  which  the  affirmation  of  Friends  might  be  received 

VOL.  II.  L 


122  MEMOIRS    OF 

instead  of  an  oath.  The  time  seemed  now  arrived 
when  such  a  proposal  niiglit  be  safely  made  to  the  le- 
gislature by  the  Sociely  ;  and  George  Whitehead,  as 
usual,  appears  to  have  taken  the  most  active  part  in 
the  solicitation  of  the  measure.  He  inserts  in  his  me- 
moirs a  very  particular  account  of  the  proceedings. 

A  case  was  drawn  up,  stating  clearly  the  grounds  of 
the  Society's  scruple  against  oaths,  namely,  that  it  was 
purely  a  case  of  conscience,  resting  on  their  understand- 
ing of  Christ's  words ;  which  in  comm.on  with  many 
ancient  martyrs  in  the  early  periods  of  the  Christian 
Church,  they* believed  to  forbid  swearing  in  all  cases. 
They  declared  themselves  ready  to  answer  the  just  and 
good  ends  of  law  and  government,  as  a  peaceable  peo- 
ple fearing  (jod  ;  stated  the  grievance  under  which 
they  laboured  from  refusing  to  swear,  both  in  their 
persons  and  estates  ;  and  concluded  with  the  following 
request,  viz. :  "  That  in  all  cases  where  oaths  are  im- 
imposed  and  swearing  required,  our  word,  that  is,  our 
solemn  aflirmation  or  denial  as  in  the  fear  and  presence 
of  God,  may  be  accepted  instead  of  an  oath  ;  for  which 
we  humbly  otFer  and  freely  submit,  that  if  any  be  found 
false  in  such  Iheir  affirmation,  that  then  such  penalty 
be  inflicted  on  the  person  so  oircnding,  as  law  and  jus- 
tice require  in  case  of  false  swearing  or  perjury." 

It  is  evident  from  the  statement  made  of  the  griev- 
ances endured  by  the  Society  on  account  of  their  reli- 
gious scruple,  that  they  must  have  more  or  less  aflfected 
nearly  all  its  members  ;  and  their  patient  and  unosten- 
tatious suffering  under  their  remaining  trials,  is  a  valu- 
able testimonyto  the  continued  faith  and  piety  of  the 
Society. 

They  were  disabled  froyn  recovering  debts  by  legal 
process  ;  from  defending  their  titles  and  properties  ;  from 
being  znitnesses  in  courts  of  judicature  ;  and  from  prov- 
in'T  "wills  or  taking  administration.  Their  young  r)ien 
toere  not  alloiotd  their  freedom  in  cities  and  corporations, 
■when  they  had  served  Ihtir  apprenticeships  ;  and  in  many 
places  they  were  debarred  the  exercise  of  their  right  as 


G.   WHITEHEAD.  123 

freeholders,  in  the  election  of  magistralfs  and  members 
of  parliament. 

A  petition  embodying  a  brief  statement  of  their  case 
and  wishes,  was  presented  to  the  house  of  commons  on 
the  7th  of  the  12th  month,  1005.  It  was  followed  by 
a  motion  for  leave  to  bring  in  a  bill,  that  "  the  solemn 
affirmation  and  negation  or  denial  of  the  Quakers,  might 
be  accepted  instead  of  an  oath,  4rf."  The  motion  was 
carried  by  a  large  majority :  "  Whereupon,"  says 
George  Whitehead,  "  many  of  the  members  came  out 
to  us,  with  great  joy,  love,  and  tenderness,  and  showed 
their  satisftiction  that  they  had  so  well  gained  the  point 
for  us." 

George  Whitehead  gives  the  following  account  of 
his  and  his  Friends'  proceedings  in  this  important  bu- 
siness. 


Leave  being  given  to  bring  in  a  bill,  according  to  our 
petition,  several  draughts  were  prepared;  the  first  by 
counsellor  Conyers,  which  was  something  long,  yet  he 
took  some  pains  in  it,  to  answer  what  we  requested  in 
our  petition,  particularly  about  our  solemn  affirmation, 
&-C.  to  be  accepted  instead  of  taking  an  oath,  and  to 
exempt  us  from  swearing.  In  his  bill,  he  stated  the 
matter,  that  the  Quakers  should  solemnly  declare  the 
truth,  in  like  manner  and  form  of  words,  as  are  used  by 
all  other  persons  who  are  required  to  declare  the  same, 
except  only  the  attestation  thereof  upon  oath  ;  that  is, 
the  words  swear,  and,  so  help  me  God,  &c.  to  be  omit- 
ted. But  then  to  make  our  attestation,  affirmation,  or 
negation,  so  solemn  as  was  expected  from  us  by  the 
parliament,  in  courts  of  justice,  &-c,  it  was  the  opinion 
of  most  of  our  friends  in  parliament,  that  there  must 
be  some  solemn  or  sacred  expressions,  religiously  re- 
specting God,  as  solemnly  to  declare  the  truth  in  his 
presence :  which  we  durst  not  gainsay,  least  we  should 
be  deemed  atheistical ;  it  being  our  principle,  that  God 
is  omnipresent,  and  omniscient  also. 

However,  as  in  a  multitude  of  counsel  there  is  safety. 


124  3IEM0IRS    OF 

we  discoursed  the  point  with  several  ingenuous  nfien  of 
the  house  of  comnnons,  that  we  might  proceed  with 
what  safety  and  success  we  could.  We  went  particu- 
larly to  Sir  Francis  VVynington,  an  ancient,  able  coun- 
sel, who  greatly  stood  our  friend  ;  and  we  showed  him 
counsellor  Conyer's  draught  of  the  said  bill,  which,  upon 
perusal  Sir  Francis  judged  much  too  long,  and  that  it 
would  be  the  more  tedious  and  diflicult  to  get  it  through 
the  house,  into  an  act ;  adding  this  reason,  that  it  had 
better  be  too  short,  than  too  long,  that  the  committee 
might  have  the  amending  of  it,  and  then  they  would  be 
the  more  willing  to  pass  it;  whereupon  he  drew  up  a 
short  bill,  but  would  not  insert  therein  the  bare  words, 
yea  or  nay,  for  attestation  in  courts  of  justice :  and  to 
olfer  the  same  in  the  house  of  commons,  in  a  bill,  for 
an  act  of  parliament,  his  opinion  was,  would  be  laughed 
at,  or  ridiculed  and  rejected. 

Many  others  were  of  the  same  mind,  that  such  ex- 
pressions, or  terms,  must  be  offered  in  the  bill,  as  might 
appear  solemn,  or  sacred,  whether  in  afiirmation  or 
negation  ;  as  to  declare,  in  the  presence  of  God,  to  an 
answer  or  evidence,  &c.  Their  forms  of  oaths,  and 
swearing,  having  been  of  such  long  standing,  and  such 
great  stress  and  obligation  laid  upon  them,  for  many 
hundred  years,  that  it  was  a  very  dilhcult  point,  and  a 
great  thing  to  gain  any  such  variation  from  them,  as 
conscientiously  to  declare,  or  affirm,  in  the  presence  of 
Almighty  God,  instead  of  the  imprecation  oath,  of,  "so 
help  me  God;"  and  the  ceremony  of  handling,  and  kiss- 
ing the  bible. 

To  obtain  such  a  great  alteration  from  an  oath,  and 
imprecation,  to  a  plain  solemn  affirmation,  as  before, 
was  indeed  a  great  point,  as  many  of  our  Friends  were 
very  sensible  of,  and  thankful  for,  when  it  was  gained. 

The  bill  as  drawn  up  by  Sir  Francis  Wynington, 
was  read  the  17th  of  12th  month  (February)  1095,  the 
tirst  time.  Read  again  the  3rd  of  the  1st  month,  1G95, 
a  second  time,  and  committed ;  the  same  day  the  com- 


G.    WHITEHEAD.  125 

mittee  met.  For  its  being  committed  130  votef,  against 
it  08  ;  more  for  it,  than  against  G2. 

Tlie  4th  of  the  1st  month,  the  committee  met  again 
and  passed  the  bill.  The  10th  of  the  1st  month,  or- 
dered it  to  be  engrossed;  and  the  1.3th  day,  the  bill 
passed  the  house  of  commons,  by  HG  voices  for  it,  and 
99  against  it ;  47  more  yeas  than  noes;  and  the  same 
dav  it  was  carried  to  the  house  of  lords,  where  it  was 
read  twice;  but  the  opposition  some  members  of  that 
house  made  td  us  herein,  did  occasion  our  longer  atten- 
dance, and  labour  to  inform  them  rightly  of  our  case, 
and  the  necessity  of  our  being  relieved.  Upon  my  rea- 
soning with  divers  of  the  peers  who  had  opposed  us 
herein,  I  did  so  far  convince  them,  that  they  were 
changed  in  judgment  and  opinion  concerning  us,  and 
did  appear  for  us  in  this  our  case  ;  insomuch  that  I  was 
daily  sensible,  the  hand  of  the  Lord  our  God,  that  was 
with  us  in  our  industrious  endeavours,  made  way  and 
did  work  for  us  therein. 

To  Him  be  the  glory  of  all  for  ever  ! 

To  incline  the  house  of  peers  to  grant  relief  from  our 
sufferings  for  not  swearing,  our  case  was  reprinted,  and 
presented  with  several  reasons  subjoined ;  and  among 
others,  this  following,  viz. 

We  also  propose  to  your  serious  consideration,  that 
this  moderation  to  persons  scrupling  to  swear,  hath  had 
good  effects  in  our  neighbouring  countries,  as  above  one 
hundred  years'  experience  hath  manifested,  in  the  fol- 
lowing instance:  on  the  26th  day  of  January,  1577, 
Guillaume  de  Nassau,  prince  of  Orange,  and  stadt- 
holder  of  Holland,  Zealand,  &c.  with  the  consent 
of  the  government  and  council,  sent  his  mandate 
to  the  magistrates,  commanding  (on  behalf  of  the  peo- 
ple called  Menists,  who  refused  to  swear  in  any  case) 
that  their  yea  should  be  accepted,  and  taken  instead 
of  an  oath,  they  being  subject,  in  case  of  falsifying  the 
truth,  to  the  pains  of  perjury. 

In  the  year  1,593,  prince  Maurice,  son  of  the  former 
prince,  with  the  consent  of  the  states,  gave  forth  a  pla- 

L  2 


126  MEMOIRS    OF 

card  or  mandate,  in  behalf  of  the  Menists,  to  the  same 
effect,  dec. 

Upon  these  passages  of  the  Menists  having  this  Hber- 
ty  to  be  exempted  from  taking  an  oath,  upon  their  yea, 
there  was  this  quotation  in  the  margin  of  the  second 
impression,  viz.  "  G.  Burnet's  History  of  the  Reforma- 
tion in  the  Low  Countries,  part  I.  p.  587,  588." 

Whereupon  some  of  the  temporal  lords  told  me,  that 
the  bishop  of  Salisbury  had  taken  occasion  to  exclaim 
against  the  Quakers  openly,  in  the  house  of  lords,  for 
falsely  quoting  his  name  as  author  of  the  said  history. 
Whereby  I  was  somewhat  surprized,  and  told  the  lords 
1  would  make  enquiry  about  the  mistake ;  and  quickly 
searching  the  first  impression,  found  it  to  be  a  literal 
mistake  of  the  printer;  for  in  the  first,  it  is  G.  Brant's 
history,  not  Burnet's.  I  went  the  next  day  and  showed 
the  same,  as  first  printed,  to  two  of  the  said  lords,  that 
is,  the  earl  of  Carbery,  and  earl  of  Marlborough,  desir- 
ing them  to  call  the  said  bishop  out,  that  I  might  show 
him  where  the  mistake  was ;  which  they  did,  and  then 
I  plainly  showed  the  bishop,  that  it  was  a  literal  mis- 
take of  the  printer,  and  that  the  Quakers  could  have 
no  design  to  misrepresent  him  in  the  quotation  ;  nei- 
ther could  the  literal  mistake  be  any  great  disparage- 
ment to  him,  to  be  rendered  the  author  of  such  a  noted 
or  esteemed  history  of  the  reformation.  And  therefore 
I  hoped  he  would  pardon  the  mistake,  so  as  not  to 
charge  us  therewith  ;  which  he  cheerfully  granted, 
making  then  but  slight  thereof.  Thereupon  1  wished 
liim  to  be  our  friend,  with  respect  to  the  bill  depending 
before  the  house  of  lords  to  relieve  us  from  oaths.  He 
objected  that  the  name  of  God  was  not  mentioned  in  it, 
viz.  solemnly  to  bear  witness  in  the  presence  of  God; 
and  if  we  did  not  allow  of  that,  he  would  be  against 
us ;  but  if  "  the  presence  of  God"  was  in  it,  he  pro- 
mised he  would  be  for  us. 

I  told  him,  those  solemn  expressions,  "  In  the  pre- 
sence of  God,"  were  in  the  bill  as  it  came  from  the 
house  of  commons,  1  was  sure ;  desiring  him  to  go  in 


G.    AVIIITEHEAD.  127 

and  see  the  bill,  that  he  might  satisfy  himself  of  the 
truth  thereof;  so  he  went  into  the  house  of  lords  to  see 
the  bill,  and  quickly  came  forth  again  to  us,  standing 
with  the  two  temporal  lords ;  and  he  then  said,  "  it  was 
true  as  I  had  told  him,  '  the  presence  of  God'  was  men- 
tioned in  the  bill.'"  The  earl  of  Carbery  told  him : 
"  Then  you  were  mistaken,  my  lord."  Whereupon  I 
said  to  him,  I  hoped  he  would  now  be  for  the  bill,  and 
be  present  when  it  was  read  a  second  time.  He  pro- 
raised  before  the  two  lords  he  would ;  but  was  not,  be- 
ing absent  the  day  it  was  moved  ;  of  which  notice  was 
taken  by  them  and  others.  Howbeit  the  Lord  our 
Heavenly  Father  stood  by  us  and  helped  us,  and  in- 
clined many  of  those  in  power  to  help  forward  the  case 
for  our  relief. 

On  the  15th  of  the  2nd  month,  called  April,  1696, 
the  bill  was  read  a  second  time,  and  committed  to  a 
committee  of  the  whole  house,  and  then  some  debate 
held  a  while,  chiefly  about  a  solemn  declaration  instead 
of  an  oath  ;  some  of  them  not  willing  it  should  pass  in 
those  general  and  solemn  expressions,  as  sent  up  from 
the  house  of  commons,  viz.  their  solemn  affirmation  or 
declaration,  to  be  in  the  presence  of  Almighty  God.  But 
some  of  the  bishops,  &c.  urging  some  other  words  to 
be  added,  as 

1.  1  call  God  to  witness  and  judge,  &,c. 

2.  As  witness  and  judge,  &-c. 

3.  I  call  God  to  record  upon  my  soul,  and  appeal  to 
God  as  Judge,  Slc. 

Whereupon  divers  of  the  temporal  lords  came  out 
several  times  (we  waiting  at  several  doors  and  ways 
into  the  house  of  lords)  to  discourse  about  those  words 
some  of  the  bishops  would  have  had  put  upon  us  ;  to  all 
which,  as  I  told  some  of  them  at  first,  our  soliciting  and 
petitioning  to  be  freed  from  the  imposition  and  burthen 
of  all  oaths,  was  not  to  have  any  new  oath  to  be  im- 
posed upon  us  ;  for  if  there  be  any  imprecation,  appeal- 
ing to,  or  invocating  God  as  judge  or  avenger,  &c.  it 


128  MEMOIRS    OF 

would  be  construed  to  be  an  oath,  or  of  the  nature  of 
an  oath. 

Upon  this  and  the  hke  expressions,  some  of  those 
lords  who  were  most  friendly  to  us  returned  into  the 
house,  to  discourse  farther  with  the  bishops,  &c.  when 
they  perceived  how  tender  and  careful  we  were,  not  to 
be  imposed  upon  in  any  thing  contrary  to  our  con- 
sciences. After  they  had  further  discoursed  in  the 
committee  with  those  bishops,  &c.  they  came  out  again 
to  us  in  the  lobby,  where  a  few  of  us  were  attending 
under  a  true  Christian  care  and  fear  towards  Almighty 
God  :  and  those  lords  who  came  out  to  us,  and  showed 
most  care  and  kindness  to  us,  urged,  that  inasmuch  as 
the  bishops  were  caught  upon  these  words,  to  be  added 
to  the  word  God,  viz.  "  the  Witness  of  the  truth  of  what 
I  say,"  as  containing  no  imprecation  nor  invocation  of 
God,  as  Judge  or  Avenger,  &c. ;  those  lords  that  were 
most  our  friends,  were  very  earnest  that  we  would 
admit  of  the  addition  of  the  words  which  they  proposed 
to  be  added,  rather  than  to  lose  our  bill  or  have  it 
thrown  out ;  forasmuch  as  God  is  really  witness  to  the 
truth  sincerely  declared,  He  being  omniscient  as  well 
as  omnispresent.  Then  seeing  the  bishops  were  argued 
out  of  their  tirst  proposition,  of  calling  God  to  witness 
and  judge,  &c. ;  the  matter  was  left  to  them  that  then 
appeared  our  friends,  and  were  really  kind  to  us,  with 
this  caution,  not  to  exceed  these  words  which  they  had 
obtained  concession  to,  viz.  "  the  Witness  of  the  truth." 
Whereupon  they  constrained  the  bishops  so  as  not  to 
exceed  them,  by  any  imprecation,  invocation,  or  appeal 
to  God,  as  Judge,  Avenger,  &.c. 

After  report  made  of  their  amendments  by  the  com- 
mittee of  the  lords^  house,  the  bill  was  passed,  with  this 
following  form  of  a  solemn  atlirmation  inserted  in  it,  and 
agreed  unto  by  the  house  of  peers,  where  it  was  formed, 
viz.:  "  1,  A.  B.,  do  declare  in  the  presence  of  Almighty 
God,  the  Witness  of  the  truth  of  what  I  say."* 

*  This  declaration  was  by  the  act  made  to  liavo  the  force  of  an 


G.    WHITEHEAD.  129 

With  some  few  additions  in  the  bill  the  same  day, 
they  returned  the  bill  to  the  house  of  commons ;  who 
on  the  17th  of  the  said  2nd  month,  called  April,  agreed 
to  the  lords' amendments;  and  on  the  20th  of  the  same 

oath  in  all  cases  except  tliose  included  in  the  following  provision  : 
"  Tliat  no  Quaker  shall  h}'  this  act  he  qualified  to  give  evidence  in 
any  criminal  causes,  or  serve  on  any  juries,  or  hear  any  office  or 
place  of  profit  in  the  government." 

The  terms  of  the  alfirmation  were  far  from  being  satisfactory  to 
many  Friends.  The  dissalisjied,  considered  the  definition  of  an 
oatli  to  be  a  solemn  appeal  to  God,  as  lo  the  truth  of  any  declaration  ; 
and  in  this  sense  they  believed  it  to  be  forbidden  in  the  New  Tes- 
tament. It  appears  from  the  remarks  of  George  Whitehead,  that 
those  who  were  satisfied  with  the  alfirmation  as  granted  in  the  act, 
though  tJiey  would  have  preferred  a  simpler  form,  looked  upon  the 
imprecation  in  the  conclusion  of  the  usual  form  of  the  oath,  and  the 
holding  and  kissing  the  book,  as  constituting  the  objectionable  parts 
of  the  act.  It  is  not  my  business  here  to  discuss  the  question  of 
which  party  took  the  more  correct  view  ;  but  as  a  circumstance  in 
the  history  of  our  present  privileges,  it  seems  worthy  of  notice,  that 
the  dissatisfaction  which  prevailed  with  the  allowed  form,  led  to 
the  continuance  of  suffering  in  several  instances,  and  to  much  pain- 
ful discussion  in  the  church.  Thomas  Story,  who  was  himself  a 
dissentient,  and  a  suff'orer  for  being  so,  lias  preserved  in  his  journal 
many  particulars  relative  to  this  subject,  and  the  following  passage 
from  his  work,  will,  I  think,  be  interesting  to  the  reader,  in  con- 
nexion with  George  Whitehead's  account. 

Under  the  date  of  1715,  after  speaking  of  the  Yearly  Meeting, 
he  says  :  '•  As  the  alFirmatioii,  from  the  beginning  of  it,  had  oc- 
casioned much  disturbance  in  the  church,  some  being  for,  and  some 
against  it ;  so  these  divisions  had  ever  been  very  oppressive  to 
my  spirit,  as  knowing  nothing  could  hurt  us  more  than  that,  or 
give  satan  or  evil  men  more  advantage  against  us  :  but  though, 
from  its  first  birth  I  never  liked  it,  yat  i  ever  kept  true  charity  to 
those  Friends  who  were  for  it,  as  believing  they  saw  no  hurt  in  it, 
though,  I  thought,  1  did  ;  and,  at  my  coming  over  to  London,  I 
laboured  among  them,  to  regain  and  keep  a  right  temper  one  to- 
wards anotiier  :  and,  as  they  talked  of  a  farther  solicitation  con- 
cerning it,  (the  late  act  being  ready  to  expire,)  I  advised  several 
leading  men  on  both  sides  to  proceed  in  one  joint  interest  as  one 
people  ;  for  though  we  could  not  all  agree  about  the  definition  of 
an  oath,  or  in  what  relation  the  allirmation  stood  to  an  oath  ;  yet 
we  all  were  as  one  man  still,  that  an  oath  is  not  consistent  with 
Christ's  doctrine;  and  accordingly  they  did  both  solicit  for  a  plain 
alfirmation,  without  the  Sacred  Name  at  all  ;  but  that  could  not  be 
obtained  ;  all  that  the  parliament  would  do,  was  to  perpetuate  the 
former,  adding  some  clauses  for  the  levying  of  tithes.  When  this 
came  to  be  discoursed  in  the  meeting,  the  minds  of  some  on  both 


130  MEMOIRS  OF 

month,  the  said  hill  was  sent  up  again  to  the  house  of 
peers,  agreed  on,  concluded,  and  confirmed  by  the  king 
and  both  houses  of  parliament,  as  a  temporary  act, 
then  to  continue  in  force  for  seven  years,  from  the  14th 

sides  being  he?.led,  things  were  like  to  run  high  ;  but  the  Lord  was 
near,  and,  by  his  blessed  wisdom  and  power,  preserved  us  in  unity. 
Some  few  of  tliese  who  were  for  the  affirmation  inclined  to  have 
it  established  over  all,  as  the  testimony  of  Truth  by  the  Yearly 
Meeting  ;  and  some  others,  on  the  othor  side,  were  resolved  to  reject 
it,  and  testify  against  it,  as  short  of  the  testimony  of  Truth  :  but 
seeing  the  tendency  of  such  a  division,  1  and  some  o.hers  laboured 
for  peace  ;  and,  with  much  long-suflering,  patience,  and  labour  in  the 
love  and  wisdom  of  Truth,  and  as  it  opened  and  made  way,  things 
came  at  last  to  this  good  issue,  that  such  as  could  take  the  affir- 
mation, might  have  the  benefit  of  it  without  censure  of  their  bre- 
thren, and  such  as  could  not  take  it,  should  not  be  reproached  by 
them  ;  but  that  the  Meeting  fur  Sufferings  should  continue  their 
care  and  solicitations,  together  with  the  dissatisfied,  for  further  ease 
in  that  point,  at  a  fit  season  :  and  with  this  conclusion  both  sides 
were  at  last  easy,  and  the  meeting  ended  in  more  peace  and  bro- 
therly kindness  than  for  some  years  before,  and  to  a  more  general 
satisfaction  ;  for  which  my  soul  was  truly  thankful,  with  many 
more." 

The  discussions  were  renewed  at  the  Yearly  Meetings  for  seve- 
ral succeeding  years;  and  at  last  several  Friends  who  were  satisfied 
with  the  affirmation,  as  it  had  been  granted  by  parliament,  propos- 
ed that  a  fresh  solicitation  should  take  place,  for  such  a  form  as 
should  meet  the  wishes  of  their  conscientious  dissentient  brethren. 
The  proposal  was  adopted  ;  and,  in  consequence,  Tliomas  Story, 
with  one  or  more  of  the  other  part}',  had  interviews  with  the  earl 
of  Carlisle,  the  earl  of  Sunderland,  the  duke  of  Somerset,  and  se- 
veral bishops  ;  from  whom  they  received  friendly  expressions  of 
willingness  to  give  ease  to  tender  consciences  in  regard  to  the  affir- 
mation. The  king,  Geo.  I.,  was  also  applied  to,  and  appeared  very 
friendly  to  the  cause  of  liberty.  A  petition  was  addressed  to  par- 
liament, in  the  year  1721,  prai/ingfor  leave  to  bring  in  a  bill  for  such 
form  of  affirmation,  as  might  relieve  the  difficulties  wider  which  many 
members  of  the  Society  laboured,  from  their  scruple  to  the  usual  form. 
The  house  of  commons  readily  granted  the  request,  but  it  met  a 
violent  opposition  in  the  house  of  lords,  from  many  peers  both  tem- 
poral and  spiritual.  Atterbur}^  bishop  of  Rochester,  said  :  "  he  did 
not  know  why  such  a  distinguishing  mark  of  indulgence  should  be 
allowed  to  a  set  of  people  who  were  hardly  Christians.''^  When 
the  bill  came  before  the  house,  the  archbishop  of  Canterbury  mov- 
ed, tiiat  the  Quaker's  afHrmation  might  not  be  allowed  in  courts  of 
judicature,  excejit  among  themselves  ;  and  the  archbishop  of  York 
moved  for  a  clause,  that  the  Quaker's  affirmation  should  not  go  in 
any  suit  at  law  for  tithes  ;  but,  after  some  debate,  the  question  be- 


G.  WHITEHEAD.  131 

of  May,  1696,  and  from  thence  to  the  end  of  the  next 
session  of  parliament,  according  to  the  words  of  the  act. 
The  act  was  renewed  again  for  eleven  years,  beginning 
the  22nd  of  November,  1702  ;  at  which  time  not  being 
well  in  heahh,  I  could  be  but  little  with  the  other 
Friends  in  their  attendance  on  the  parliament  in  that 
concern. 


In  1714  the  act  was  made  perpetual ;  and  in  1721, 
as  already  stated  at  the  conclusion  of  the  last  note,  the 
form  of  the  affirmation  was  altered  so  as  to  meet  the 
wishes  of  the  more  scrupulous  members  of  the  Society. 

The  next  point  which  claimed  the  particular  atten- 
tion of  this  vigilant  guardian  of  the  Society's  interest, 
was  connected  with  its  scruple  against  tithes,  &,c.  A 
bill  was  brought  into  parliament  for  the  "  better  pay- 
ment of  church  rates,  small  tithes,  and  other  church 
dues  ;  and  the  better  passing  churchwarden's  accounts." 
The  betler  loay  which  the  bill  proposed,  was  giving  new 
powers  to  the  ecclesiastical  courts.  It  recited  an  act 
of  Henry  VIII.  which  em/joa-ercr/ justices  to  commit  to 
gaol,  persons  proved  in  the  ecclesiastical  courts  to  have 
obstinately  and  wilfully  refused  to  pay  their  tithes;  but 
it  was  now  proposed  to  empower  the  ecclesiastical 
judge  to  determine  all  such  matters  absolutely :  but 
with  the  true  hypocrisy  of  a  persecuting  church,  the 
civil  magistrate  was  to  be  called  upon,  without  the  ex- 
ercise of  any  discretion  on  his  part,  to  issue  out  his 
warrant  of  distress,  or  if  that  was  not  to  be  found,  to 
commit  the  party  to  prison. 

The  bill  made  its  appearance  in  the  house  of  lords; 
and  having  been  referred  to  a  committee,  George  White- 

ing  put  theron,  was  carried  into  the  negative  by  fifty-two  voices 
against  twenty-one  ;  and  the  question  being  put  in  the  house  whe- 
ther the  bill  should  pass,  it  was  resolved  in  the  allirmalive.  By 
this  bill  the  affirmation  was  established  in  the  simple  form,  I  ^.B., 
do  iolemnly,  siuccrdy  and  IrnJij  declare  and  ajfirm.  whereby  ease  and 
rehef  was  extended  universally  to  the  members  of  this  Society  in 
respect  to  oaths.     Gough,  voi.  iv.  p.  190. 


132  MEMOIRS    OF 

head  with  seven  other  Friends  were  admitted,  at  their 
request,  to  state  their  objections  to  it.  The  bishop  of 
London  was  the  chairman  ;  and  having  asked  them 
what  they  had  to  except  against  the  bill,  George  White- 
head spoke  on  behalf  of  the  deputation,  and  he  gives 
the  following  account  of  the  interview. 

1  answered :  "  The  same  reason  that  is  given  in  the 
act  of  parliament,  in  the  17th  of  king  Charles  the  First, 
for  the  taking  away  the  court  commonly  called  the  Star 
Chamber;  and  the  power  of  the  ecclesiastical  commis- 
sioners, and  their  high  commission  court,  being  re- 
moved ;  because  of  their  oppressive  and  arbitrary  pro- 
ceedings, &c.  upon  the  repeal  of  a  branch  of  a  statute, 
primo  Elizabeth,  concerning  commissioners  for  causes 
ecclesiastical,  17  Charles  I.  cap,  10  and  J 1 ;  it  is  con- 
ceived, with  submission,  that  the  same  reasons  may  be 
alleged  against  the  present  bill  giving  such  absolute 
power  to  the  ecclesiastical  courts,  their  judges  and  or- 
dinaries, to  give  the  definite  sentence  and  judgment, 
&c.  that  is,  as  therein  described." 

Bishop.  "■  You  except  against  the  bill  itself,  &-c.  ; 
what  particulars  do  you  object  against  ?" 

George  IVhitchead.  "  Observing  divers  particular 
clauses  therein,  it  appears  contrary  to  the  great  charter 
of  England,  that  is  magna  charta,  as  the  arbitrary  and 
oppressive  proceedings  of  the  star  chamber  and  high 
commission  court  were  adjudged  to  be ;  and  therefore 
they  and  their  power  or  jurisdiction  which  they  ex- 
ercised, were  justly  taken  away  from  them. 

"  By  the  present  bill,  the  ecclesiastical  judge  or  or- 
dinary, is  made  the  sole  judge  and  determiner  by  his 
definitive  sentence,  concerning  the  penalties  upon  the 
persons  and  estates;  and  no  appeal  to  any  other  or 
higher  court,  seems  to  be  granted  or  allowed  by  it. 

"  The  ecclesiastical  judge  and  court  commonly  favour 
the  plaintiif,  that  is,  the  vicar,  priest,  or  curate,  as  a 
party  for  him,  and  therefore  appear  not  to  be  impartial 
judges  in  the  case. 

"  And  suppose  the  defendant  be  sued  for  a  tithe-pig, 


G.    WHITEHEAD.  133 

goose,  or  hen,  or  a  little  orchard  fruit,  (that  is,  a  few 
apples,  pears,  plums,  or  cherries,  or  the  value  thereof,) 
and  the  party  for  conscience'  sake  cannot  pay  the 
same,  then  must  he  or  she  be  committed  to  prison  for 
it.  Surely  there  is  no  proportion  between  the  punish- 
ment and  the  pretended  ollence ;  whereas  punishments 
ought  not  to  exceed  the  nature  of  the  otfence,  they 
should  be  adapted  to  the  quality  and  quantity  of  the 
offence;  as  it  is  a  maxim  in  common  law  and  justice, 
and  in  magna  charta,  for  a  greater  offence  a  greater 
amercement;  and  for  a  lesser  offence  a  lesser  amerce- 
ment. But  if  a  person  for  conscience'  sake  cannot  pay 
a  tithe-pig,  or  goose,  &c.  the  ecclesiastical  court,  judge 
or  ordinary,  by  their  certificate,  will  cause  two  justices 
to  commit  the  person  to  jail,  there  to  remain  perhaps 
without  bail  or  mainprize,  until  the  court  receive  satis- 
faction, or  until  payment ;  which  if  he  can  never  do, 
there  he  must  remain  under  confinement  till  death  ;  and 
his  days  may  be  soon  shortened  thereby,  as  many 
have  been,  by  close  confinement,  causing  sickness,  &c." 

One  of  the  committee  queried  :  "  Which  would  you 
have  then  ?  do  you  choose  rather  to  have  your  goods 
seized  or  distrained,  than  imprisonment  of  your  per- 
sons?" 

George  Whitehead  answered :  '*  Of  two  evils  we  had 
better  suffer  by  the  less,  yet  choose  neilher.  If  we  must 
suffer  for  nonpayment  of  tithes,  we  would  rather  suffer 
the  less  penalty  than  the  greater;  rather  loss  of  goods 
than  our  liberties  ;  as  it  is  a  more  easy  suffering,  to  have 
the  small  tithes  or  a  tenth  taken  away,  than  to  be  con- 
fined in  prison  all  our  life  time. 

'^  As  to  paying  parish  cleiks  or  sextons,  or  to  the 
fabrics  of  parochial  churches,  (so  the  bishop  termed 
them,)  we  do  not  think  it  equal  we  should  suffer  for  not 
paying  to  them,  whom  we  do  not  employ  ;  and  we  do 
not  require  any  of  the  Church  of  England  to  pay  toward 
the  repair  of  our  meeting  houses,  they  would  not  be  so 
dealt  by,  &c." 

The  bishop  reflected :  "  What,  then,  you  compare 

VOL.    II.  M 


134  MEMOIRS    OP 

your  meeting  houses  to  ours,  which  are  established  by 
law,"  6lc.  1  replied  :  "  We  are  thankful  to  the  govern- 
ment, ours  are  now  legally  allowed  by  the  late  act  of 
exemption  or  toleration,  (kc." 

One  of  the  lords  temporal  put  this  question  to  us,  viz. 
'*  But  what  reason  have  you  in  point  of  conscience,  for 
your  refusing  to  pay  tithes?" 

I  answered :  "  That  is  a  serious  and  weighty  ques- 
tion, and  deserves  such  an  answer,  viz.  the  reason  of 
our  conscience  in  this  case,  is  grounded  upon  and  has 
respect  unto  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  his  command  in  his 
commission  to  his  ministers  :  '  Freely  ye  have  received, 
freely  give,'  Malt.  x.  And  to  his  changing  the  priest- 
hood of  Levi,  and  disannulling  the  commandment  and 
their  law  for  tithes,  as  is  fully  signified  in  the  7th  chap- 
ter to  the  llibrezvs.  Therefore  Christ's  ministry  is  a 
free  ministry,  under  the  Gospel  Dispensation,  and  not 
to  be  upheld  by  tithes  or  forced  maintenance ;  and  it 
is  very  manifest,  that  Christ  changed  the  priesthood 
from  the  tribe  of  Levi  to  Himself,  (as  our  great  High 
Priest,)  who  came  not  of  the  tribe  of  Levi,  but  of  the 
tribe  of  Judah ;  of  which  tribe  Moses  spake  nothing 
concerning  priesthood,  Heb.  vii.  14. 

"  And  our  refusing  to  pay  tithes  for  conscience'  sake, 
in  these  respects,  in  this  Gospel  day,  and  for  these  rea- 
sons, under  the  Gospel  Dispensation,  is  no  new  or  strange 
thing;  for  many  eminent  martyrs  and  reformers  were 
of  the  same  judgment  with  us,  in  this  matter  or  testi- 
mony against  tithes,  in  this  Dispensation,  &c." 

And  as  I  was  then  beginning  to  mention  some  of  those 
martyrs,  &c.  as  William  Thorpe,  Walter  Brute,  John 
Wicklitr,  &.C.  the  said  bishop  being  chairman,  was 
pleased  to  interrupt  me  from  proceeding  further  in  my 
instances,  and  thus  reflectingly  turned  upon  me  :  "  Here 
you  bring  scraps  of  Scripture,  but  we  have  Scripture 
as  well  as  you,  viz  :  '  If  we  have  sown  unto  you  spiri- 
tual things,  should  not  we  reap  of  your  temporal  or 
carnal  things.'  '  And  the  Lord  hath  ordained,  that  they 
who  preach  the  Gospel  should  live  of  the  Gospel,'  &c." 


G.    WHITEHEAD.  135 

Answer:  "  Reaping  temporal  things,  or  living  of  the 
Gospel,  is  not  limited  to  tithes." 

Here  being  interrupted  and  prevented  from  further 
discourse  against  tithes,  the  bishop  asked  us  :  "Have 
you  any  exceptions  to  olFcr  in  writing  ?" 

1  answered :  ''•  Yes,  we  have  :"  which  we  then  deli- 
vered to  the  clerk,  John  flelpli,  Esq.  to  read  •,  which  he 
did  very  distinctly,  and  no  reply  was  given  ;  but  the 
bishop  directed  him  to  lay  them  by  for  further  consi- 
deration. But  we  heard  of  no  further  consideration  or 
debate  about  the  said  bill  in  the  house  of  lords,  but 
that  it  was  wholly  laid  aside. 

The  temporal  lords  that  were  present  in  the  said 
committee  were  very  civil  to  us;  and  after  that  dis- 
course, divers  of  them  appeared  more  kind  to  us  than 
ever  before. 

I  was  very  glad  and  esteemed  it  a  great  mercy  from 
the  Lord  to  us,  that  the  said  bill  was  stopped ;  for  if  it 
had  passed  into  a  law,  I  was  persuaded  that  the  priests 
of  the  persecuting  sort,  would  have  taken  such  strength 
and  encouragement  thereby,  that  they  would  have  per- 
secuted and  imprisoned  a  great  part  of  our  Friends 
throughout  England,  &.c. 

Blessed  be  the  Lord,  they  were  disappointed,  that 
that  weapon  was  not  formed  ready  to  be  put  into  their 
hands  or  power  to  make  use  of. 


By  the  poll  act  which  was  passed  in  the  previous 
reign,  every  dissenting  teacher  or  preacher  was  oblig- 
ed to  pav  a  tax  of  twenty  shillings  quarterly  ;  and  as 
those  were  not  exempted  from  payment  who  received 
no  remuneration  for  preaching,  the  tax  fell  of  course 
upon  the  ministers  of  Friends,  and  distraints  it  appears 
were  made  in  several  instances  to  recover  it.  VV^hen 
this  act,  on  its  expiration  in  1695,  was  about  to  be  re- 
newed, George  Whitehead  and  Thomas  Lower  ap- 
plied to  several  influential  members  of  parliament,  and 
succeeded  in  convincing  them  that  it  was  inconsistent 
with  the  tenor  of  the  act,  that  persons  who  had  no  gain 
from  preachng  should  pay  a  tax  of  four  pounds  a  year ; 


136  BIEMOIRS    OF 

and  a  clause  was  accordingly  introduced  into  the  new 
bill,  which  cllectually  relieved  the  case  of  Friends. 

In  the  year  1G97-8,  the  Czar  of  Muscovy  being  in 
England,  it  was  agreed  that  some  Friends  should  wait 
upon  him  ;  and  George  Whitehead  prepared  an  address 
which  contains  bold  but  salutary  counsel,  shortly  stat- 
ing the  character  of  the  Society,  and  concluding  with 
the  following  exhortation,  to  rule  with  mercy  and  to 
give  liberty  of  conscience  to  his  subjects. 

"  O  Czar !  the  Great  God  requireth  of  thee,  to  do 
justly,  love  mercy,  and  walk  humbly  before  Him,  who 
is  a  God  of  knowledge,  and  by  whom  actions  are  weigh- 
ed, and  who  is  the  righteous  Judge  of  all. 

"  We  pray  thee  observe  the  good  resolution  of  that 
great  king  Artaxerxes,  when  he  was  made  lord  over 
many  nations;  he  would  not  exalt  himself  by  reason  of 
his  power,  but  purposed  with  equity  always  and  gen- 
tleness to  govern  his  subjects,  and  wholly  to  set  them 
into  a  peaceable  life,  and  thereby  to  bring  his  kingdom 
into  tranquillity,  &c. 

"  And  know,  that  it  is  by  mercy  and  truth  that  the 
thrones  of  kings  are  established  ;  and  that  thereby  thou 
mayest  obtain  mercy  and  favour  with  the  Most  High 
God,  and  gain  the  real  love  and  affections  of  thy  sub- 
jects. O  !  be  tender  and  merciful  to  them  all,  as  they 
are  all  thy  fellow  creatures,  created  by  one  God:  O  I 
break  off  (by  sins  by  righteousness,  and  showing  mercy 
to  the  poor. 

"  And  let  the  example  of  our  renowned  king  Wil- 
liam, influence  thee  to  the  like  moderation  and  cle- 
mency, throughout  all  thy  dominions;  which  he  hath 
showed  in  granting  free  liberty  of  conscience,  in  the 
peaceable  exercise  of  religion  and  worship  towards 
Almighty  God,  as  they  may  be  persuaded  by  Him 
who  is  the  Sovereign  Lord  over  the  consciences  of  men. 

"  From  thy  real  well  wishers  and  friends  to  thy  im- 
mortal soul,  who  desire  thy  everlasting  happiness." 


The  paper  was  signed  by  five  Friends,  and  among 
the  rest  by  William  Fenn ;  and  it  appears  that  they 


G.    WHITEHEAD.  137 

waited  upon  the  Czar  at  Deptford,  where  he  resided ; 
but  he  decHned  to  see  them  on  the  professed  ground  of 
being  unwell.  However,  one  of  the  principal  persons 
in  his  suite,  who  treated  the  deputation  in  a  friendly 
manner,  promised  to  deliver  the  paper  to  his  master. 

The  days  of  severe  persecution  had  now  drawn  to  a 
close,  and  there  can  be  no  doubt  that  a  great  improve- 
ment had  taken  place  in  the  general  feeling  of  all  par- 
ties in  regard  to  mutual  toleration.  The  race  of  blind 
zealots  was  not  however  extinct.  "  There  were  some 
priests,"  says  the  narrative,  "  in  the  county  of  Norfolk, 
who  appeared  very  invidious  against  us,  and  our  liberty 
of  religious  exercise,  being  instigated  by  our  old  apos- 
tate adversary,  Francis  Bugg  ;  and  having  what  assist- 
ance he  could  afford  them,  they  must  needs  have  a 
public  meeting  with  some  of  our  Friends  at  West  Deer- 
ham,  in  their  parish  church,  so  called,  where  some  of 
our  Friends  of  London  and  of  the  country  met  them,  at 
the  time  appointed ;  and  though  the  priest  had  gotten 
many  of  our  Friends'  books  together,  and  endeavoured 
to  render  them  obnoxious,  yet  they  gained  no  advan- 
tage, but  were  disappointed  of  their  evil  designs  ;  which 
were  for  some  pretence  to  incense  the  people  and  the 
government  to  raise  a  new  persecution  against  us,  as 
hereafter  is  made  more  obvious.  I  had  intended  to  have 
gone  that  journey  into  Norfolk,  to  have  met  them  ;  but 
was  in  the  interim  prevented  by  a  sudden  indisposition, 
which  remained  for  some  days,  till  the  Lord  was  pleas- 
ed to  recover  me. 

"  However,  the  said  Norfolk  priests,  in   pursuit  of 
their  invidious  designs  and  attempts,  published  two  ca- . 
lumnious  books,  entitled 

"  L  'A  Brief  Discovery,'  &c. 

"  n.  '  Some  few  of  the  Quakers'  many  horrid  Blas- 
phemies,' &c. ;  which  they  delivered  to  the  parliament. 
The  priests  chiefly  concerned  against  us  in  the  said 
books,  that  they  might  appear  men  of  note  and  learn- 
ing, gave  their  names  and  distinctions  in  the  title  page 
of  their  said  *'  Brief  Discovery." 

M  2 


138  MEMOIRS    OP 

"  These  priests  thought  to  do  great  matters  against 
us,  by  most  falsely  and  maliciously  rendering  our  prin- 
ciples blasphemous  and  seditious,  &-c. ;  wherein  they 
were  sufficiently  detected  and  refuted,  in  two  books 
which  I  wrote,  in  direct  and  full  answer  to  them  and 
their  most  bitter  and  unjust  charges  against  us  and  our 
principles. 

"  One  of  my  answers  to  them  is  entitled, '  Truth  and 
Innocency  vindicated,  and  the  People  called  Quakers 
defended  in  Principle  and  Practice,  against  invidious 
attempts  and  calumnies,  &c.'  printed  1699,  and  deliver- 
ed to  members  of  parliament. 

"  The  other  answer  1  put  forth,  is  entitled  '  Truth 
prevalent,  and  the  Quakers  discharged  from  the  Nor- 
folk rectors'  furious  charge,  &c.'  which  though  it  be 
large,  several  of  them  weic  delivered  to  members  of 
parliament.* 

"  Yet  the  implacable  enmity  of  the  said  priests,  and 
their  assisting  agent  F.  Bugg,  and  others,  was  such, 
that  their  persecuting  us  with  gross  aspersions  and  ca- 
lumnies in  print,  would  not  appease  their  wrath  ;  but 
they  got  an  invidious  petition  framed  against  us,  which 
they  intended  to  present  to  the  house  of  commons;  in 
order  to  which,  the  two  knights  of  the  shire  were  in- 
trusted to  move  the  said  petition  in  the  house.  Two 
priests  attending  and  soliciting  for  some  time,  to  have 
their  petition  moved  and  promoted  in  the  house,  but 
were  disappointed  therein,  and  their  persecuting  pur- 
poses justly  frustrated. 

"  For  having  obtained  a  copy  of  their  petition,  I 
showed  it  to  divers  leading  members  of  parliament ; 
and  how  greatly  the  design  thereof  tended  to  raise  a 
new  persecution,  and  to  make  void  the  toleration  and 
liberty  of  conscience,  granted  and  legally  settled  by  the 

*  The  work  consists  of  one  hundred  and  eighty-seven  closely 
printed  small  4to  pages.  It  forms  an  epitome  of  the  charges  against 
the  Quakers,  and  an  abJc  dejj^oce  of  their  civil  and  religious  prin- 
ciples. 


G.    WHITEHEAD.  139 

government.  They  were  made  sensible  thereof;  and 
resolved  to  oppose  the  said  petition,  and  to  throw  it  out 
with  contempt,  if  it  came  to  be  moved  in  the  house ; 
asking  mc,  "  In  whose  hands  it  was?"  I  told  them,  "  In 
the  hands  of  the  two  Norfolk  knights ;"  with  whom  I 
divers  times  discoursed  about  it,  to  show  them  the  na- 
ture and  tendency  of  the  petition,  and  how  greatly  we 
were  misrepresented  in  it.  They  understanding  that 
many  eminent  members  in  the  house  were  set  against 
it,  were  in  a  strait,  and  intimated  thus  much  to  me, 
"  that  the  clergy  and  some  of  the  gentry  of  their  own 
county  of  Norfolk,  were  earnest  with  them  to  present 
the  said  petition  ;  but  perceiving  it  would  be  rejected 
and  thrown  out,  it  brought  them  under  that  strait,  that 
they  must  cither  displease  those  of  their  own  county 
who  chose  them,  or  the  house  of  commons."  I  told 
them  :  "  It  was  an  unthankful  oflice  that  was  put  upon 
them  :"  they  confessed  it  was.  However,  I  said,  "  We 
did  not  solicit  them  to  prevent  their  presenting  or  mov- 
ing the  said  petition  in  the  house  ;  but  if  they  were  dis- 
posed to  present  it,  we  desired  that  justice  of  them,  to 
give  us  some  previous  notice  of  the  time  when  they  in- 
tended to  move  it,  that  we  might  attend  in  readiness  to 
answer  for  ourselves."  This  was  fairly  granted  by 
them ;  however,  upon  their  deliberate  consideration, 
the  petition  was  prudently  dropt." 

A  similar  attempt  was  made  by  the  corporation  of 
Bury  in  Sulfolk,  but  their  representatives  in  parlia- 
ment wisely  declined  presenting  the  petition  of  their 
constituents  to  the  house. 

This  petition  with  the  light  of  a  hundred  years'  ex- 
perience upon  its  jealousiefi,  sets  the  folly  of  the  perse- 
cuting spirit  in  so  striking  and  almost  ludicrous  a  point 
of  view,  that  I  shall  pay  it  the  respect  of  insertion  in 
this  place. 

"  To  the  Honourable  the  Commons  of  England,  in 
parliament  assembled. 

"  The  humble  petition  of  the  aldermen,  assistant  jus- 


140  MEMOIRS,    dtC. 

tice,  and  chief  burgess,  and  burgesses  of  the  common 
council,  in  behalf  of  themselves  and  the  other  inhabi- 
tants of  the  borough  of  Bury  St.  Edmonds,  in  Suffolk. 

"  Humbly  showcth, 

"  That  we  considering  all  ancient  heresies  which 
have  vexed  both  Church  and  state,  were  never  so  for- 
midable in  their  rise  and  progress  as  are  the  Quakers  ; 
we  have  too  just  a  cause  of  dreading  the  subversion  of 
our  government  by  them  if  not  carefully  prevented  and 
suppressed,  being  in  their  clandestine  constitutions  op- 
posite to  the  condition  of  our  established  policy,  and  in 
their  principles  of  faith  antichristian  ;  of  government, 
antimonarchial ;  in  points  of  doctrine,  antiscriptural ; 
and  in  practices,  illegal ;  having  their  weekly,  month- 
ly, quarterly,  and  yearly  meetings,  which  we  cannot 
but  reasonably  believe,  tend  not  only  to  the  subversion 
of  our  laws,  but  of  our  religion  also,  to  us  of  greater 
concern  than  our  lives. 

"  We  therefore,  obliged  in  duty  to  God  and  our  coun- 
try, do  humbly  pray  your  timely  consideration  of  our 
jealousies,  and  to  rcmuve  our  fears,  if  not  by  totally  sup- 
pressing, yet  at  least  by  preventing  their  after  growth 
and  encrease  amongst  lis ;  that  our  posterity  may  un- 
troubled live,  by  this  early  care  of  our  laws  and  liber- 
ties, and  we  enjoy  the  wished  for  happinessof  a  peace- 
ful life." 


At  this  period  George  Whitehead  brings  his  memoirs 
to  a  close,  and  with  the  triumph  of  a  Christian  vete- 
ran, thus  reviews  the  engagements  of  his  past  life. 


(    141   ) 


CONCLUSION. 

Manifold  exercises,  trials,  and  tribulations,  hath  the 
Lord  my  God  supported  me  under,  and  carried  me 
through,  in  my  pilgrimage  for  his  name  and  Truth's 
sake,  more  than  could  possibly  be  related  in  this  his- 
tory; having  spent  a  long  time,  even  the  greatest  part 
of  my  life  from  my  youth  upward,  in  the  testimony, 
service,  and  vindication  of  the  living,  unchangeable 
Truth,  as  it  is  in  Christ  Jesus  my  Lord  ;  for  whom  I 
have  suffered  many  things,  both  in  body  and  spirit,  as 
also  by  reproaches  and  calumnies,  and  sincerely  labour- 
ed in  his  love,  who  has  supported  me,  and  hitherto 
helped  me  in  the  Gospel  of  the  Grace  of  God,  and  of  his 
dear  Son  Jesus  Christ,  even  the  Gospel  of  life,  salva- 
tion, and  peace,  to  them  who  truly  believe.  And  yet  1 
esteem  not  all  my  sufTerings  and  afflictions  worthy  to 
be  compared  to  the  glory  set  before  me;  for  all  which 
I  must  ascribe  blessing,  honour,  glory,  power,  and  do- 
minion to  the  Lord  God  and  the  Lamb  upon  his  throne, 
for  ever  and  ever ! 

And  when  by  the  grace  and  assistance  of  my  Hea- 
venly Father,  I  have  finished  the  work  He  hath  given 
me  to  do ;  I  firmly  believe  and  livingly  hope  in  the 
Lord,  I  shall  die  in  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  and  ever  live 
with  and  rest  in  Him  in  his  heavenly  kingdom. 

O  my  soul !  enter  thou  into  thy  rest,  even  thy  eter- 
nal rest  from  thy  manifold  labours,  travails,  and  suffer- 
ings: for  the  Lord  thy  God  hath  dealt  bountifully  with 
thee;  glory  to  his  excellent  Name  for  evermore! 

G.  W. 

Concluded,  London,  the  18th  of 
the  6th  Month,  1711. 


(  142  ) 


SECTION  XIX. 

Brief  notice  of  George   Whitehead's  further  services.* 

When  George  Whitehead  wrote  the  preceding  con- 
clusion to  the  account  of  his  "  Christian  Progress,"  it 
is  highly  probable  that  he  found  his  bodily  strength  di- 
minished ;  and  that  he  anticipated  a  speedy  dismissal 
from  works  to  rewards.  It  is  not  easy  to  imagine  a 
state  of  human  existence  more  desirable  than  that  in 
which  this  Christian  labourer  appears  to  have  been  at 
the  date  of  the  preceding  paragraph.  In  his  seventy- 
fifth  year,  looking  with  peaceful  retrospect  on  a  life 
conscientiously  devoted  to  what  he  believed  to  be  the 
will  of  his  Creator,  and  the  service  of  his  fellow  crea- 
tures ;  and  forward  with  humble  but  certain  hope  to 
that  glory,  in  comparison  of  which  all  the  sufferings  he 
had  endured  for  Christ's  sake  were  not  worthy  to  be 
named.  He  was  destined,  however,  to  remain  for 
twelve  years  more  in  this  state  of  being,  and  was  ena- 
bled to  employ  even  the  last  remains  of  his  bodily 
strength,  in  his  accustomed  religious  and  civil  services. 
Many  of  those  who  had  been  his  contemporaries  in  the 
early  labours  of  the  Society  had  been  removed  from 
their  labours;  and  there  were  no  doubt  many  occasions 
occurring,  in  which  the  advice  and  counsel  of  so  expe- 
rienced a  veteran  as  George  Whitehead,  would  be  of 
essential  service  to  the  cause  he  was  so  anxious  to  pro- 
mote ;  and  the  subject  of  liberty  of  conscience  appears 
to  have  continued  deeply  to  interest  him. 

George  W  hitehead  has  not  noticed  in  his  memoirs 
the  death  of  king  William,  or  the  accession  of  queen 

*  To  the  original  work  of  George  Whitehead,  a  Supplement 
was  appended  by  the  Editor,  from  which  1  have  taken  most  of 
the  particulars  mentioned  in  this  notice  of  the  last  twelve  years  of 
his  life. 


G.    WHITEHEAD.  143 

Anne.  The  former  circumstance  could  not  but  be  one 
of  the  most  mournful  kind,  to  all  the  enemies  of  religi- 
ous persecution  ;  and  to  none  more  than  to  the  Qua- 
kers. It  is  quite  evident  from  the  circumstances  just 
mentioned,  that  in  his  liberal  and  enlightened  vi6vvs,  he 
far  outrun  the  age  in  which  he  lived,  and  the  people 
over  whom  he  ruled.  William  and  Mary  may  be  said 
to  have  planted  the  tree  of  religious  liberty  in  England  ; 
in  their  reign  was  the  first  act  of  parliament  made 
''■for  the  case  of  scrupulous  consciences ;"  and  the  debt 
of  gratitude  due  to  William,  as  the  instrument  under 
Divine  Providence  of  the  ease  which  they  enjoyed,  was, 
there  is  good  reason  to  believe,  deeply  fell  by  the  So- 
ciety of  Friends. 

On  his  safe  return  from  Holland  in  the  year  1701, 
and  on  the  settlement  of  the  crown  of  England  in  the 
protestant  line,  the  Society  thought  it  right  to  address 
him  with  their  grateful  acknowledgments  and  congra- 
tulations. Well  might  they  say :  "  We,  thy  dutiful 
subjects,  sincerely  express  our  joy  for  thy  safe  return 
to  thy  people.  We  have  great  cause  to  love,  honour, 
and  pray  for  thee,  as  a  prince  whom  we  believe  God 
hath  promoted  and  principled  for  the  good  ends  of  go- 
vernment ;  under  whose  reign  we  enjoy  great  mercies 
and  favours,  and  particularly  that  of  liberty  to  tender 
consciences  in  religious  worship."  Nor  would  it  be 
with  less  sincerity,  that  in  the  following  year,  1702,  on 
presenting  an  address  to  the  queen  on  her  accession  to 
the  throne,  they  said  :  "  We  cannot  but  be  sorrowfully 
affected  with  a  deep  sense  of  the  loss  sustained  by  the 
death  of  our  late  king  William  the  III.  whom  God 
made  the  instrument  of  much  good  to  these  nations ;  a 
prince  who  indeed  desired  to  be  the  common  father  of 
his  people^  and,  as  such,  did  by  his  great  example  as 
well  as  precept,  endeavour  to  unite  them  in  interest 
and  atFection,  and  promoted  and  confirmed  a  legal  li- 
berty to  tender  consciences ;  by  all  which,  his  reign 
was  adorned  to  the  renown  of  his  memory." 

George  Whitehead,  in  company   with  some  other 


144  MEMOIRS    OF 

Friends,  appears  to  have  presented    both  these  ad- 
dresses. 

I  do  not  find  any  record  of  his  proceedings  during  the 
few  years  of  queen  Anne"'s  reign,  which  followed  the 
close  of  his  own  narrative,  except  in  a  work  published 
in  conjunction  with  William  Mead  in  the  year  1712, 
under  the  title  of  "  The  people  called  Quakers  truly 
represented,  and  vindicated  from  some  mistakes  in  the 
representation  of  the  Lower  IIoush  of  Convocation:" 
to  which  was  added,  a  reply  lo  a  persecuting  pamphlet 
against  the  Quakers  and  the  toleration.  This  work 
will  be  found  in  the  Appendix.  It  is  evident  from  it 
that  the  spirit  of  persecution  was  far  from  extinguish- 
ed. A  bigottcd  zeal  for  the  hierarchy,  and  a  corres- 
ponding aversion  to  all  dissenters,  manifested  itself  in 
various  ways,  and  especially  in  the  law  againfil  occa- 
sional conformilij,  and  that  against  the  growth  of  schism. 
The  latter  act  was  designed  to  prevent  dissenters  from 
keeping  schools,  and  virtually  to  take  out  of  the  pa- 
rents' hands  their  natural  right  in  the  care  and  educa- 
tion of  their  own  children.  The  Society  of  Friends  pre- 
sented a  strong  but  respectful  remonstrance  against  it, 
and  it  met  with  great  opposition  in  both  houses  of  par- 
liament. It  was  nevertheless  carried  and  received  the 
royal  assent,  but  on  the  very  day  on  which  this  act  was 
to  have  become  the  law  of  England,  Anne,  the  last  of 
the  Stuart  dynasty,  cxpiied.  A  c ha r.ge  of  measures 
immediately  took  place  under  the  mild  reign  of  George 
1.;  and  on  his  accession  to  the  throne  in  the  year  1714, 
George  Whitehead  presented  to  him,  in  company  with 
a  number  of  other  Friends,  a  congratulatory  address; 
which  having  been  read,  he  addressed  the  king  to  the 
following  elFect. 

"  Thou  art  welcome  to  us,  king  George.  We  heart- 
ily wish  thee  health  and  happiness,  and  thy  son  the 
prince  also.  King  W^illiam  the  Third  was  an  happy 
instrument  in  putting  a  stop  to  persecution,  by  promo- 
ting toleration  ;  v^hich  being  intended  for  uniting  the 
king's  protcstant  subjects  in   interest  and  ullection,  it 


G.    WHITEHEAD.  145 

hath  so  far  that  effect  as  to  make  them  more  kind  to 
one  another,  even  among  the  different  persuasions,  than 
they  were  when  persecution  was  on  foot.  We  desire 
the  king  may  have  further  knowledge  of  us  and  our 
innocency  ;  and  that  to  Uve  a  peaceable  and  quiet  life, 
in  all  godliness  and  honesty,  is  according  to  our  prin- 
ciple and  practice.  " 

Having  a  desire  to  see  the  prince  of  Wales,  and  in- 
timating it  to  a  nobleman  who  was  gentleman  to  the 
prince's  bed  chamber,  he  was  introduced  with  several 
of  his  friends  into  a  chamber  where  the  prince  met 
them ;  and  George  Whitehead  addressed  him  as  fol- 
lows : 

"We  take  it  as  a  favour  that  we  are  thus  admitted 
to  see  the  prince  of  Wales,  and  are  truly  very  glad  to 
see  thee.  Having  delivered  our  address  to  the  king  thy 
royal  father,  and  being  desirous  to  give  thyself  a  visit 
in  true  love,  we  very  heartily  wish  health  and  happi- 
ness to  you  both ;  and  that  if  it  should  please  God  thou 
shouldst  survive  thy  father  and  come  to  the  throne,  thou 
mayst  enjoy  tranquillity  and  peace,  &c. 

"  I  am  persuaded,  that  if  the  king  thy  father  and  thy- 
self do  stand  for  toleration,  for  liberty  of  conscience  to 
be  kept  inviolable,  God  will  stand  by  you. 

"  May  king  Solomon's  choice  of  wisdom  be  thy  choice, 
with  holy  Job's  integrity  and  compassion  to  the  oppress- 
ed ;  and  the  state  of  the  righteous  ruler  commended  by 
king  David,  viz.,  '  He  that  ruleth  over  men  must  be 
just,  ruling  in  the  fear  of  God;  and  he  shall  be  as  the 
light  of  the  morning  when  the  sun  riseth,  even  a  morn- 
ing without  clouds  ;  as  the  tender  grass  springing  out 
of  the  earth  by  clear  shining  after  rain.'" 

It  is  said  that  the  good  old  man's  address  was  well  re- 
ceived by  the  prince. 

In  the  year  1715,  on  occasion  of  the  rebellion,  George 
Whitehead  and  one  of  his  friends  obtained  admission  to 
the  king,  and  presented  to  him  a  paper;  a  copy  of 
which  was  found  am.ong  his  manuscripts  after  his  de- 
cease. 

VOL.   II.  w 


146  MEJIOIRS    OP 

"  A  few  words  in  true  love  to  king  George,  humbly 
presented. 

"Seeing  our  most  gracious  God  liath  been  pleased, 
by  his  Overruling  power  and  providence,  to  give  thee  a 
free  and  peaceable  accession  to  the  tbrone  of  these 
kingdoms  ;  O  lot  thy  trust  and  confidence  be  in  the  same 
Divine  Power,  and  thy  eye  to  that  Light  and  Grace 
thereby  given  thee,  and  the  Lord  will  no  doubt  con- 
found tl)y  foes,  and  disperse  and  expel  that  dark  cloud 
and  spirit  of  rebellion  that  is  risen  up  against  thee  and 
thy  lawful  government,  constituted  for  the  defence  and 
support  of  our  just  liberties  and  properties,  religious  and 
civil,  against  popery  and  slavery. 

"  Thy  Christian  principle  for  liberty  to  tender  con- 
sciences being  maintained  and  stood  by,  against  perse- 
cution the  pillar  of  popery,  the  Lord  will  stand  by  and 
defend  thee  and  thy  royal  oifspring  ;  for  surely,  '  mercy 
and  truth  do  preserve  (he  king,  and  his  throne  is  uphol- 
den  by  mercy.'  Remember  what  the  Spirit  of  the  Lord 
spake  by  king  David  in  his  last  words :  '  He  that  ruleth 
overmen  must  be  just,  ruling  in  the  fear  of  God;  and 
he  shall  be  as  the  light  of  the  morning,  even  a  morning 
without  clouds,'  &c. 

"  The  J^ord  the  God  of  hosts  be  thy  defence,  thy 
Guide,  and  Counsellor,  and  replenish  thy  heart  with 
his  wisdom,  whereby  kings  reign  and  jirinces  decree 
justice  ;  for  in  (hat  wisdom  true  dominion  stands. 

"'J'hat  thou.O  lung,  mayst  be  a  blessing  in  the  hand 
of  the  Lord  to  these  nations,  and  enjoy  a  safe,  a  peace- 
able, and  prosperous  reign  in  this  life,  and  a  crown  of 
righteousness  in  Ihat  to  come,  is  the  hearty  prayer  of 
an  ancient  servant  of  Jesus  Christ,  and 

"  A  truly  loving  and  faithful  subject, 

"George  Whitehead.** 

"  London,  tlio  2r,th  of  the  «th 
nionll),  called  October,  1715." 

In  the  following  year,  at  the  age  of  eighty,  he  again 
wailed  on  the  king  with  a  deputation  from  the  Society 


G.    WHITEHEAD.  147 

to  present  to  him  a  congratulatory  address  on  the  sup- 
pression of  the  rebellion.  He  introduced  the  address  to 
the  king,  by  a  speech  which  proved  that  he  still  preserv- 
ed his  faculties  and  his  loyalty.  It  was  to  the  following 
effect. 

"  That  in  their  annual  assembly,  held  for  the  religious 
concerns  of  their  Society,  endeavouring  to  promote  and 
put  in  practice  the  duties  of  religion  professed  by  them, 
the  sense  of  the  great  deliverance  had  such  a  weight 
upon  their  minds,  that  they  were  willing  to  express  it  in 
an  address  to  king  George,  wdiom  God  by  his  providence 
had  brought  hither  and  preserved,  so  that  he  could 
well  say,  he  was  George  by  the  grace  of  God,  king  of 
Great  Britian,  &c.  And  that  as  men  carried  that  say- 
ing stamped  on  the  money  in  their  pockets,  so  it  was  to 
be  wished  it  might  be  imprinted  in  the  hearts  of  the 
subjects." 

Though  George  Whitehead  had  now  become  very 
feeble  in  body,  yet  he  continued  to  attend  the  meetings 
of  his  friends  both  for  religious  worship  and  for  disci- 
pline ;  bearing  his  testimony  "  to  the  virtue  and  excel- 
lency of  that  Divine  Grace,  which  had  supported  him 
from  his  youth  upward  ;  imparting  in  most  sensible  ex- 
pressions such  choice  fruits  of  his  own  experiences,  that 
an  attentive  hearer  could  not  depart  unedified.  And 
even  in  meetings  about  Church  atfairs,  where  some- 
times diversity  of  sentiments  may  arise,  he  would  ex- 
press his  thoughts  with  a  convincing  force  and  solidity 
of  reasoning,  no  less  admirable  than  the  unspotted  in- 
tegrity of  his  grey  hairs  was  honourable." 

When  in  his  eighty-sixth  year  he  wrote  a  lively  ad- 
dress to  his  friends,  which  was  printed  and  circulated 
amongst  them.  He  died  in  great  peace  in  the  year 
1722-3,  at  the  age  of  eighty-seven.* 

*  For  the  account  of  his  close,  see  "  Introduction,"  p.  29,  of 
vol.  I. 


APPENDIX. 


I.  A  Christian  Epistle  to  Friends  in  General. 

II.  The  people  called  Quakers  truly  represent- 
ed, AND  vindicated  FROM  SOME  MISTAKES  IN  THE  LOW- 
ER   HOUSE    OP    CONVOCATION,  &C.    (fec. 

III.  The  Christian  Doctrine  and  Society  of  thh 
People  called  Quakers,   &,c.  &c. 


s  2 


APPENDIX. 

A  CHRISTIAN  EPISTLE  TO  FRIENDS  IN  GENERAL. 

Dated  the  2Zth  of  Ith  mo.  1689. 

Dear  and  tenderly  beloved  Friends  and  called  of 
God,  every  where ; 

In  a  real  and  deep  sense  of  my  Heavenly  Father's 
love  and  tender  mercy,  revealed  through  his  most  dear 
Son,  our  ever  blessed  Lord  and  Saviour  Jesus  Christ, 
which  1  am,  with  many  more,  livingly  made  a  partaker 
of,  doth  my  life  and  spirit  very  dearly  and  tenderly 
salute  you,  as  truly  and  most  heartily  wishing  and  pray- 
ing, that  divine  grace,  mercy,  and  peace,  with  all  spi- 
ritual blessings  and  divine  favours  in  Christ  Jesus  may 
be  encreased  and  multiplied  among  you  and  unto  you, 
to  your  great  consolation,  peace,  and  prosperity  in  the 
love  of  God. 

Dear  Friends,  finding  for  some  time  of  late  a  living 
and  holy  constraint  and  pressure  of  spirit,  to  communi- 
cate some  things  of  weight  and  concern  unto  you  re- 
specting your  safety,  peace,  and  prosperity  in  the  bless- 
ed unchangeable  Truth,  I  am  opened  and  encouraged 
by  the  precious  Life  and  Spirit  of  our  God,  to  be  clear 
and  free  therein  towards  you  all,  and  that  in  discharge 
of  my  tender  conscience,  in  the  sight  and  presence  of 
the  God  of  my  life,  whom  I  serve  with  my  spirit  in  the 
Gospel  of  his  dear  Son,  as  I  have  sincerely  done  from 
my  youth  upward  :  blessed  be  his  pure  name  for  ever ! 

And  having  had  these  many  years'  experience  in  the 


152  APPENDIX. 

weighty  service  of  the  Lord  our  Cod,  (brough  manifold 
exercises,  hiirdens,  spiritual  travails,  and  oppositions,  I 
may  not'  hide  my  talent,  nor  conceal  those  things  my 
Lord  and  Master  requires  me  to  divulge  for  the  safety 
and  good  of  his  people,  in  their  several  conditions, 
states,  and  attainments,  as  having  long  and  truly  seen 
the  goodness  of  the  Lord  in  the  land  of  the  living,  and 
the  good  and  blessed  estate  of  his  chosen  and  faithful 
ones  ;  for  which  I  praise  the  name  of  the  Lord  my  Re- 
deemer, in  whom  1  have  believed  through  his  divine 
goodness,  never  to  be  foigotten  by  any  of  us ;  as  also 
being  not  ignorant  of  or  unacquainted  with  the  many 
wiles,  various  workings,  and  depths  of  Satan,  the  great 
adversary  of  man's  felicity  and  of  the  peace  of  God's 
people,  who  worketh  upon  the  divers  inclinations,  mu- 
table affections,  wills,  weaknesses,  and  infirmities  of  the 
sons  of  men,  to  deceive,  pervert,  deprave,  and  corrupt 
them,  that  they  may  the  more  easily  be  led  captive  by 
him  at  his  will,  in  their  following  their  own  unsubjccted 
wills  and  spirits. 

You  therefore,  my  dear  Friends,  who  have  livingly 
felt  and  tasted  of  the  Lord's  power  and  goodness,  and 
known  his  work  in  your  hearts,  in  order  to  your  deliver- 
ance and  redemption  out  of  the  evil  world  and  the  cor- 
ruptions thereof,  prize  his  tender  mercies  and  goodness, 
and  forget  them  not.  Let  the  holy  fear  of  the  Lord 
God  be  your  treasure,  and  true  wisdom  and  understand- 
ing the  stability  of  your  times  in  righteousness.  Let 
your  sincere  love  to  the  pure  name  and  Truth  of  the 
Lord,  and  one  unto  another,  be  continued  in  that  un- 
changeable truth  and  power  of  an  Endless  Life,  where- 
unto  the  Lord  hath  called  us ;  and  I  pray  God  increase 
your  love  and  zeal  for  his  glorious  name,  and  Christian 
tenderness,  and  brotherly  ailcction  one  towards  another, 
that  life  forever  more  may  be  your  blessing  and  portion  ; 
as  it  will  be  to  all  them  who  dwell  in  amity,  true  love, 
and  unity  of  spirit  in  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  which  is  a 
most  joyful,  comfortable,  and  blessed  state;  which  too 
many  professors  of   Truth  are  short  of  for  want  of 


APPENDIX.  153 

keeping  near  to  the  Lord,  in  his  holy  fear,  and  love  of 
his  blessed  name  and  Truth  ;  whose  negligence  and  un- 
faithfulness to  Truth  in  themselves,  hath  caused  a  decay 
of  love  and  want  of  charity  towards  others;  and  then, 
instead  of  humbly  waiting  and  depending  upon  the 
Lord,  some  have  exalted  themselves  in  a  self-will,  self- 
conceit,  and  affection  to  preeminence  in  judgment  over 
others,  until  thereby  divisions  and  self-separations  have 
been  caused  and  stirred  up  by  them,  to  the  great  grief 
of  the  spirits  of  the  upright,  who  have  kept  their  inte- 
grity to  the  Lord,  his  Truth,  and  people.  And  this  self- 
exaltation,  slighting,  and  contemning  others,  have  been 
and  are  the  great  evils,  snares,  and  engines  wherewith 
the  adversary  catches  them  that  never  were  thoroughly 
subjected  into  true  humility,  mortification,  true  self- 
denial  or  dying  with  Christ.  Such,  though  under  pro- 
fession of  Truth,  may  make  a  great  show  and  flourish 
for  a  time  in  outward  appearance,  leaves,  and  blossoms, 
yet  they  bring  not  forth  fruit  unto  perfection  or  ripeness 
in  Christ.  Therefore  beware  of  self-exaltation,  beware 
of  an  earthy  spirit  entering,  beware  of  covetousness 
which  is  idolatry ;  let  not  the  earth  interpose  betwixt 
any  of  your  souls,  and  the  brightness  of  that  divine 
glory  which  has  appeared  even  in  our  day  and  times. 

Spiritual  gifts  may  be  lost  or  fallen  short  of,  if  the 
Fountain  of  them,  the  Holy  Spirit  of  Life  itself,  be  not 
diligently  minded  and  followed ;  and  where  love  to- 
wards God  and  his  Truth  decays  in  any,  their  love  to- 
wards his  servants  and  people  grows  cold  ;  and  then 
their  gifts  decrease  and  die,  as  the  life  of  them  is  with- 
drawn or  departed  from,  or  that  love  lost  which  is  the 
more  excellent  way :  "  For  if  I  want  charity  [or  love]  I 
am  nothing."  What  gifts,  openings,  discoveries,  visions, 
revelations,  wisdom,  knowledge,  or  understanding  soever 
any  have,  yet  still  it  is  the  heavenly  Root  must  bear 
them,  they  must  keep  low  their  minds  and  spirits  to 
that  from  whence  life  and  love  springs ;  or  else  they  fall, 
wither,  die,  and  become  empty,  uncharitable,  and  hard- 
hearted ;  and  there  the  enemy  has  his  evil  ends  upon 


154  APPENDIX. 

them,  in  betraying  thcnn  and  corrupting  their  minds 
from  the  Truth,  from  hfe,  from  love,  Irom  the  innocency 
and  simplicity  which  is  in  Christ,  the  Way,  the  Truth, 
and  the  Life;  and  there  is  a  danger  in  being  too  early 
and  forward  to  censure  and  judge  others,  and  in  judging, 
censuring,  and  undeivaluing  others'  gifts,  ministry,  and 
labours,  whom  God  hath  called  into  his  work  and  service; 
for  some  tliereby  may  either  lose  their  own  gifts,  life, 
and  strength,  or  fall  short  of  those  heavenly  gifts  which 
otherwise  they  might  attain  to,  if  they  kept  low  and 
tender  in  humility,  love,  and  society  with  their  breth- 
ren ;  whereby  they  might  also  be  serviceable  with  them. 
For  I  have  seen  in  my  time  some,  who  never  passed 
through  judgment  in  themselves,  yet  very  censorious, 
judging,  detracting,  and  whispering  against  their  bre- 
thren, slighting  them,  their  ministry,  and  labours,  who 
themselves  have  greatly  lost  by  it ;  and  God  in  displea- 
sure hath  suffered  them  to  discover  their  own  weakness 
and  nakedness,  for  their  own  abasement  under  the 
righteous  judgment  of  Truth.  And  it  is  evident  that 
from  this  kind  of  exalted,  censorious,  whispering,  and 
envious  spirit,  which  worketh  not  for  love  and  union, 
have  proceeded  the  several  divisions,  schisms,  and  se- 
parations which  have  happened,,  to  the  great  trouble  of 
the  Church  of  Christ  in  our  days,  as  in  the  primitive 
Christians'  days. 

And  the  several  sorts  of  apostates  and  backsliders 
from  Truth,  show  what  and  what  kind  and  manner 
of  spirit  they  went  and  go  out  in,  by  their  works  and 
fruits,  whether  in  a  spirit  of  pride  and  ambition,  in  a 
spirit  of  envy  and  hypocrisy,  in  a  scornful  contemning 
spirit,  in  a  covetous  earthly  spirit,  in  a  loose  profane 
spirit,  or  in  a  drunken  debauched  spirit  of  ranterism 
and  fleshly  liberty,  which  corne  all  from  one  evil  root 
and  seed,  according  to  the  vai-ious  corrupt  inclinations 
and  wills  of  men,  upon  which  the  enemy  works,  and 
appears  with  baits  and  temptations  suitable  thereunto, 
that  he  may  prevail  the  more.  And  it  is  certain,  that 
the  envious  apostates  and  wilful  adversaries,  were  the 


APPENDIX.  155 

most  troublesome  to  the  primitive  Churdies  of  Christ 
and  his  holy  apostles  in  their  day,  and  so  in  ours. 
Therefore  blessed  and  truly  happy  are  they  who  keep 
their  habitations  in  the  Truth  and  love  of  God,  and  live 
in  Christian  love  and  charity  one  towards  another;  for 
such  walk  in  the  light,  where  there  is  no  occasion  of 
stumbling  or  scandal. 

And  as  it  was  evidence  unto  the  primitive  Christians, 
that  they  were  passed  from  death  to  life  because  they 
loved  the  brethren,  and  that  they  had  purified  their 
souls  through  their  obedience  of  the  Holy  Spirit  unto 
unfeigned  love  of  the  brethren  ;  even  so  now  the  same 
evidence  and  testimony  remains  and  lives  in  and  for  all 
them  that  dwell  in  the  love  of  God  one  towards  an- 
other :  for  all  envy,  prejudice,  back  bitings,  whisper- 
ings, tale  carrying,  lying,  heats,  passions,  provocations, 
reviHng,  railing,  clamours,  scorn,  contempt,  ill  language, 
flattery,  and  hypocrisy  are  to  be  utterly  put  away, 
avoided,  judged,  condemned,  and  for  ever  excluded  the 
camp  of  God;  for  they  proceed  from  the  false  and  de- 
generate birth,  evil  seed  and  spirit,  and  not  from  the 
true  seed  or  birth  ;  which  is  innocent  and  hurts  no 
body  by  word  or  action,  in  person,  name,  reputation, 
or  property  ;  for  that  is  tender  in  all  these  things.  For 
false  reports,  whisperings,  back  bitings,  and  tale  carry- 
ing cause  strife  and  division,  and  are  condemned  by  the 
law  of  God  and  Light  of  Christ,  and  expressly  forbidden 
by  God  himself:  "  Thou  shalt  not  be  as  one  that  carries 
tales  up  and  down  among  my  people  :  thou  shalt  not 
receive  a  false  tale,  nor  raise  a  false  report  against  the 
Lord's  people,  nor  do  his  prophets  or  servants  any 
harm." 

And  all  who  profess  the  Truth,  or  make  mention  of 
the  name  of  the  Lord  among  us,  ought  to  watch  over 
their  own  spirits,  wills,  and  passions,  and  have  a  care  of 
hurting  one  another,  or  crushing  any  tender  spirit  or 
plant,  or  stopping  or  quenching  any  spiritual  gift  or  tes- 
timony God  has  given,  how  little  or  low  soever  it  may 
be  or  seem ;  for  some  of  a  tender  spirit  are  sooner  hurt 


156  APPENDIX. 

and  wounded  than  healed.  All  keep  in  Christian  hu- 
mility, meekness,  patience,  gentleness,  and  tender  heart- 
edness  one  towards  another.  And  elders  and  overseers 
in  the  churches  of  Christ  must  be  examples  of  believers, 
hoth  in  humility,  meekness,  patience,  and  condescension, 
as  Christian  patterns;  and  not  self-willed,  nor  soon 
angry,  nor  given  to  passion,  striving,  heats,  or  conten- 
tion.' Such  Christian  example  and  behaviour  in  the 
house  and  church  of  the  living  God,  tend  greatly  to  keep 
out  and  prevent  contentions  and  contentious  spirits,  and 
to  the  comfort  and  encouragement  of  the  upright  heart- 
ed, who  arc  willing  to  serve  the  Lord,  his  Truth,  and 
people. 

My  dear  Friends !  the  l^ord  our  God  has  heen  good 
to  us ;  a  tender  Father  through  all  our  trials,  sufferings, 
and  exercises,  in  upholding  us  by  his  free  Spirit,  ac- 
companying us  with  his  presence,  comforting  us  in  our 
afflictions  with  his  renewed  mercies  and  multiplied  fa- 
vours, in  preserving  us  a  living  people  to  his  praise  until 
this  day,  and  afFording  us  this  present  liberty  we  have 
of  late  enjoyed,  and  do  partake  of  the  benefit  and  ad- 
vantage thereof,  in  our  public,  peaceable  and  religious 
assemblies  for  the  exaltation  of  the  glorious  name,  holy 
Truth,  and  divine  power  of  the  Lord  our  God.  Where- 
fore we  have  great  cause  to  prize  his  tender  mercies 
and  goodness  to  us,  and  walk  humbly  under  the  sense 
thereof,  that  a  right  use  and  improvement  may  be 
made  of  all  the  mercies  and  privileges  wc  do  enjoy,  and 
such  a  good  use  of  the  present  liberty,  as  that  none 
grow  careless  or  negligent,  indifferent  or  lukewarm, 
because  thereof,  nor  any  sit  down  at  ease  in  the  flesh 
or  in  the  earth,  and  therein  promise  themselves  security 
from  further  sulferings  or  trials,  because  of  the  late  and 
present  enjoyment  of  liberty  and  ease  from  persecution. 
This  is  no  good  use  of  the  present  mercy,  nor  safe  con- 
clusion ;  for  God  has  many  ways  to  try  his  people  ;  and 
national  calamities  and  distresses,  whereof  his  own  peo- 
ple sometimes  partake,  are  not  at  an  end,  nor  the  judg- 
ments incurred  by  iniquity  turned  away,  because  of  the 


APPENDIX.  157 

continued  provocations,  wickedness,  rebellions  against 
God,  their  abominations,  pride,  hypocrisies,  deceits, 
falseliood,  and  presumption,  abounding  in  this  and  other 
professing  nations  against  the  great  and  righteous  God, 
the  Judge  of  all,  who  is  so  long  sparing  and  forbearing 
as  He  is  to  this  nation,  merely  for  his  small  remnant 
and  seed's  sake,  which  is  already  gathered  and  to  be 
gathered. 

Yet  the  great  God  will  distress  nations,  and  cause 
the  earth  to  tremble  before  Him,  and  overturnings  and 
desolations  in  the  earth  before  calamities  are  ended,  o" 
Christ's  peaceable  kingdom  be  set  up  more  generally  in 
the  earth,  or  where  as  yet  it  is  opposed  and  resisted  ; 
for  the  cause  why  wars,  desolations,  and  the  devouring 
sword  are  already  in  great  judgment  entered  so  many 
nations  and  countries,  is  because  of  the  crying  sins, 
great  provocations,  persecutions,  and  cruelties  in  the 
dark  places  of  the  earth. 

And,  dear  Friends,  brethren  and  sisters,  whom  I 
truly  love  in  the  Lord,  who  retain  your  integrity  and 
love  in  the  blessed,  unchangeable  Truth,  you  cannot 
be  insensible  how  (hat  the  Lord's  harvest  is  great, 
and  what  need  of  faithful  labourers  there  now  is;  an 
effectual  door  being  open  in  this  time  of  liberty,  the 
Lord  in  mercy  has  granted  for  the  good  of  many  poor 
souls,  that  they  may  come  and  receive  the  Truth  in  the 
love  of  it;  and  that  they  who  have  been  or  are  of  a 
fearful  heart,  may  receive  strength  and  know  the  Lord 
to  be  their  Saviour  and  Redeemer,  in  this  his  evan- 
gelical day,  and  free  and  blesssed  opportunity  He  has 
afforded.  And  yet,  though  this  harvest  be  great,  the 
diligent  and  faithful  labourers  are  but  few  now  raised 
up,  in  comparison  of  the  greatness  of  the  harvest  and 
necessity  of  the  work  ;  many  of  our  ancient  brethren 
and  faithful  fellow  labourers  and  helpers  in  Christ  being 
taken  away,  and  gone  to  their  everlasting  rest,  having 
faithfully  served  out  their  day  and  generation,  fulfilled 
and  finished  their  testimony  with  joy  and  peace,  and 
obtained  a  crown  of  glory  that  shall  never  fade  away. 

VOL.   II.  o 


158  APPENDIX. 

And  this  very  matter  has  been  often  seriously  upon 
my  thoughts  and  weighty  considerations,  what  should 
be  the  cause  or  reason  why  so  few  faithful  labourers  and 
clear  Gospel  ministers,  have  been  of  late  raised  up  or 
are  now  brought  forth  ;  though  some  have  a  good  hve- 
ly  testimony,  blessed  be  the  Lord  !  And  it  clearly  ap- 
pears to  me,  first,  that  few  are  given  up  in  their  spirits 
for  this  weighty  service,  as  we  were  in  the  beginning, 
who  arc  in  some  measure  gifted  and  qualified. 

Secondly,  few  sincerely  seek  the  Lord,  or  have  wait- 
ed upon  Him  with  fervent  desires,  prayer,  and  sup- 
plication, that  they  may  be  gifted,  indued,  and  qualified 
with  power,  wisdom,  faith,  patience,  &c.  for  the  work 
of  the  ministry  of  Christ  Jesus  ;  whereas,  if  any  man 
want  wisdom  he  should  ask  it  of  God  ;  and  he  shall  not 
miss  of  a  gracious  answer  to  the  desire  of  his  soul,  who 
sincerely  asks,  seeks,  and  knocks  at  "Wisdom's  gate  : 
"  Whatsoever  ye  ask  in  my  name,"  saith  Christ,  "  be- 
lieve that  ye  shall  receive  it,  and  it  shall  be  given  you." 
You  know  Solomon's  request  to  the  Lord  for  an  under- 
standing heart  to  discern  judgment,  his  choice  of  wis- 
dom rather  than  riches  or  long  life,  how  it  pleased 
God.      i  Kings  iii.  10. 

Thirdly,  very  few  have  their  minds  and  spirits  really 
and  inwardly  exercised  in  frequent  prayer  and  daily 
supplication  to  God,  or  in  heavenly  meditation,  or  spi- 
ritual contemplation  in  God's  pure  and  spiritual  laws, 
ways,  judgments,  and  works,  or  in  Holy  Scriptures  by 
the  Holy  Spirit  which  opens  them  ;  but  too  many  have 
their  minds,  hearts,  and  aflections  taken  up  with  these 
fading  objects  and  things  below,  minding  earthly  things, 
being  overcharged  with  the  love  of  riches,  cares,  and 
cumbers  of  this  life,  to  compass  the  earth,  wherein 
many  a  good  talent  has  been  hid,  and  poor  soul  buried 
in  captivity.  Whereas  i<  requires  an  inward  and  seri- 
ous exercise  of  spirit  toward  God,  frequent  and  fervent 
prayer  and  supplication^  unto  Him,  an  inward  and  dili- 
gent attention  upon  Him,  who  is  the  giver  of  every 
good  and  perfect  gift,  to  obtain  both  Divine  wisdom  and 


APPENDIX.  159 

a  weighty,  living,  clear,  evangelical  ministry.  For  the 
sanctified  hearts  and  souls  who  truly  fear  God,  are 
those  into  whom  only  wisdom  entereth,  and  maketh 
them  friends  of  God,  and  prophets.  The  Lord  will 
have  an  inward,  spiritual,  sincere,  and  zealous  people. 
Oh  !  inward  watclifulness,  prayer,  and  supplication  to 
Almighty  God  have  been  and  are  too  much  neglected 
by  many  ;  1  pray  God  they  may  seriously  examine, 
and  find  out  the  causes  in  themselves  with  the  Light 
of  Christ  Jesus,  and  bring  all  to  the  righteous  judgment 
thereof. 

Fourthly,  if  any  of  the  younger  sort,  who  are  in  some 
measure  imbued  with  spiritual  gifts  and  knowledge, 
do  let  up  a  slight  and  disesteem  in  their  minds  of  their 
elder  brethren,  who  are  experienced  in  the  work  and 
service  of  God,  and  keep  not  in  society  or  union  with 
them  in  the  spirit  of  love  and  of  a  sound  mind,  but  give 
way  unto  a  singularity,  abounding  in  their  own  sense, 
not  keeping  low  and  humble  before  the  Lord,  nor  little 
in  their  own  eyes  ;  such  neither  grow  in  life,  nor  in 
Divine  openings,  nor  increase  in  their  gifts,  nor  come 
to  attain  to  a  weighty,  clear,  evangelical  ministry  and 
service;  but  rather  lose,  die,  and  wither,  unless  they 
come  into  true  humility,  self-denial,  reconciliation,  love, 
and  union  with  their  elder  faithful  brethren  ;  who,  in 
the  love  of  God,  would  tenderly  help  them,  and  not 
hinder  them  in  the  work  and  service  of  the  Lord  our 
God. 

It  is  both  a  great  grief  and  scandal  also,  to  see  many 
of  the  younger  sort  who  frequent  our  meetings,  and  even 
of  Friends'  children  also,  degenerating  into  pride,  and 
height  of  spirit  and  apparel,  so  nearly  to  imitate  and 
border  upon  the  world  as  too  many  do,  contrary  to  the 
gravity,  modesty,  sobriety,  plainness,  simplicity,  inno- 
cency,  and  humility,  which  Truth  requires,  in  example 
as  well  as  in  spirit,  and  which  Truth  at  first  led  many 
into  ;  and  as  still  it  doth  lead  and  order  them  that  truly 
love  and  obey  it :  in  which  I  pray  God  to  settle  and 
order  his  people,  and  that  no  plea  nor  excuse  may  be 


160  APPENDIX. 

m.ade  to  maintain  pride,  vanity,  or  innmodcsty  in  ap- 
parel, which  only  gratifies  vain  airy  minds  and  spirits, 
and  the  lust  of  the  carnal  eye,  and  grieves  the  tender, 
and  gives  occasion  of  reproach  and  stumbling  to  them 
that  are  without,  and  to  such  as  are  soberly  and  reli- 
giously inclined.  O !  it  is  precious  to  keep  low  and 
humble  before  the  Lord,  and  to  walk  as  living  exam- 
ples of  Christian  humility;  a  lowly  mind  is  content 
with  low  things,  and  loves  plainness. 

And  this  is  observable,  that  if  never  so  much  be  tru- 
ly and  sincerely  preached  in  public  against  pride  and 
vanity  in  apparel,  &c.  if  it  be  indulged  or  connived  at 
home  in  children  or  young  persons,  by  parents,  guar- 
dians, or  overseers,  all  preaching,  instruction,  and  warn- 
ing proves  to  them  but  as  water  spilt  upon  the  ground, 
and  makes  no  impression  ;  whilst  through  such  encour- 
agement and  indulgence  at  home,  they  embrace  a 
spirit  of  pride  and  irreverence  towards  God,  and  dis- 
regard to  his  truth  and  people ;  and  though  some 
formality  and  something  of  the  form  of  Truth,  they 
may  have  by  outward  education,  it  is  not  by  the  work 
of  regeneration  ;  for  there  are  but  few  in  comparison 
that  really  come  in  at  that  door  ;  and  therefore  1  have 
had  often  a  godly  fear  upon  me  of  the  springing  up  of 
degenerate  plants  amongst  us,  and  a  degenerate  gene- 
ration to  the  dishonour  of  Truth  and  our  holy  profes- 
sion, after  our  days. 

And  it  is  they  who  arc  inclining  and  getting  into  the 
spirit  of  the  world,  and  liberty  out  of  the  Truth,  who 
live  not  in  humility  nor  in  the  fear  of  God,  that  give 
secret  strength  to  an  apostate  turbulent  spirit,  wliich 
has  been  the  Church's  exercise  of  late  years,  and  that 
are  most  easily  catchcd  with  that  apostate  spirit,  and 
feigned  words  of  the  instruments  thereof,  wliose  work 
is  to  sow  discord,  and  make  divisions,  schisms,  and  se- 
parations, which  are  fruits  of  the  flesh;  for  if  all  had 
been  faithful  to  the  Light,  and  kept  in  humility  and  love 
of  Truth  and  one  another,  there  had  been  no  enmity 
one  towards  another,  nor  snuting  of  fellow  servants ; 


APPENDIX. 


161 


but  the  fear  of  God  would  have  preserved  them  out 
of  those  snares  of  death,  which  that  spirit  of  discord 
leads  into. 

Howbeit,  I  am  well  satisfied  in  the  Lord,  that  He 
will  never  suffer  a  general  or  final  apostacy  or  degene- 
ration ;  the  brightness  of  our  day,  and  glory  of  our  Sun 
of  righteousness  shall  never  be  extinguished  ;  although 
too  many,  through  the  adversary's  subtilty  and  temp- 
tations, together  with  their  own  carnal  and  corrupt  in- 
clinations, are  apt  to  degenerate,  and  their  minds  to  be 
exalted  and  alienated  from  the  fear  of  God,  from  the 
cross  of  Christ,  from  humility  and  lowliness  of  mind, 
from  true  and  conscientious  tenderness,  from  love  to  the 
brethren,  from  innocency,  plainness,  and  simplicity  that 
is  in  Christ,  both  in  their  spirits,  language,  and  habits, 
who  therefore  ought  to  be  faithfully  admonished  and 
tenderly  instructed ;  by  which  means,  together  with  a 
meek  and  gentle  behaviour,  many  have  been  gained 
and  many  may  yet  be  recovered  out  of  the  snares  of 
satan,  who  have  been  taken  captive  at  unawares; 
"  having  compassion  of  some,  making  a  difference,"  has 
often  reached  the  tender  part  in  them:  and  in  relation 
to  others  more  deeply  prejudiced,  I  remember  a  cau- 
tious saying  of  an  ancient  and  faithful  brother  deceased, 
viz.  "  VVhere  we  cannot  make  them  better,  we  must 
take  heed  we  do  not  make  them  worse."  The  Lord 
keep  his  people  in  his  holy  fear,  watchful  and  humble 
before  Him,  in  true  love  and  tender  heartedness  ;  that 
they  may  receive  wisdom  from  Him  to  behave  them- 
selves, and  to  minister  suitably  to  all  conditions. 

And  all  dear  and  tenderly  beloved  Friends,  with  all 
who  are  effectually  convinced  of  God's  holy  Truth  and 
name,  and  do  profess  the  same  ;  in  the  holy  fear  of  God, 
in  his  Light  watch  and  pray  constantly,  without  faint- 
ing, against  your  soul's  subtil  adversary,  in  all  his 
attempts  to  beget  into  self-exaltation  and  prejudice,  to 
smite  fellow  servants  and  cause  divisions  or  olfences ; 
for  that  is  the  enemy's  work. 

And,  Friends,  have  not  the  faith  of  our  Lord  Jesus 


o  2 


162  APPENDIX. 

Christ  with  respect  of  persons  ;  this  was  ancient  and 
Christian  counsel.  So  let  not  the  rich  and  high  con- 
temn the  low  and  mean  ;  let  not  uncertain  riches  puff 
up  any,  or  exalt  them  above  their  brethren ;  nor  any 
brother  of  high  degree  in  earthly  enjoyments,  slight  or 
contemn  their  brethren  of  low  degree.  Some  sincere 
hearted  and  serviceable  Friends  and  brethren  have  en- 
joyed plenty  of  the  world's  goods,  and  yet  through 
losses,  sufFerings,  disappointments,  or  others'  unjust 
dealings  by  them,  are  brought  low  in  the  world  ;  and 
who  were  esteemed  when  in  prosperity.  It  would  be 
very  unchristian  and  sinful  to  slight  or  disesteem  them 
in  their  adversity,  which  is  their  trial.  The  poor  of 
this  world  who  are  rich  in  faith,  whom  God  hath  chosen, 
are  near  unto  Him;  their  faith  is  the  more  tried  by 
their  poverty  and  lowness,  and  how  soon  that  may  be 
the  trial  of  many  that  are  rich,  they  know  not ;  there- 
fore it  is  very  unsafe  for  any  to  trust  in  uncertain  rich- 
es, or  to  be  exalted  or  lifted  up  because  of  them  ;  they 
should  rather  humbly  depend  upon  the  living  God,  and 
trust  in  Him,  and  love  and  esteem  their  brethren  in 
Truth,  how  mean  and  low  soever  in  this  world,  know- 
ing that  with  (Jod  there  is  no  respect  of  persons,  nor 
with  them  who  truly  bear  his  image. 

And  pray,  Friends,  keep  out  all  disputes  and  con- 
troversies, which  some  busy  spirits  in  the  world  are 
incident  unto,  as  about  outward  revolutions,  govern- 
ments, state  alTiiirs,  and  kingdoms  of  this  world.  Let 
not  their  divisions  divide  you,  nor  their  strife  and  con- 
tentions about  the  outward  court  and  forms  of  religion, 
earthly  kingdoms  and  crowns  that  will  fade,  iriilucnce 
any  among  you  to  contend  or  become  paities  about 
them ;  but  quietly  serve  and  wait  upon  God  in  your 
places  and  stations  where  He  hath  set  you,  and  sub- 
missively leave  all  to  his  overruling  power,  wisdom,  and 
providence,  to  do  or  sulFcr  things  to  come  to  pass  as 
He  pleaseth  ;  for  none  may  say  to  Him  :  "  What  dost 
Thou?"  though  men  may  be  warned  as  God  shall  re- 
quire.    And  He  knows  what  is  best  for  his  people,  and 


APPENDIX.  163 

will  cause  all  things  to  work  together  for  good  to  them 
that  love  Him:  his  kingdom  come  more  and  more,  his 
blessed  will  be  done  in  heaven  and  earth,  who  is  Judge 
of  all,  and  sees  all  hearts,  intents,  and  designs  of  men 
throughout  the  whole  world.  And  you  know  that 
we  cannot  make  flesh  our  arm,  nor  therewith  fight  for 
one  or  another;  stillness  and  quietness,  innocency  and 
good-will  towards  all  men  according  to  our  Christian 
principle,  is  therefore  the  best  and  safest  state  and  con- 
dition, wherein  we  all  may  approve  ourselves  as  the 
Lord's  hidden  ones,  and  as  of  them  that  are  quiet  in 
the  land. 

Be  still,  and  know  that  the  Lord  is  God,  and  that  He 
will  be  exalted  in  his  everlasting  kingdom  and  dominion 
over  all  the  kingdoms  of  men;  neither  let  the  world's 
confusions  confound  you,  nor  the  world's  distractions 
distract  you,  or  any  of  you,  nor  the  removing  of  moun- 
tains in  the  earth  remove  you  from  the  Lord's  moun- 
tain, nor  the  unstable  waters  or  tossing  waves,  toss  you, 
or  influence  any  of  you,  to  discompose  or  hurry  vou 
from  your  peaceable  habitations  ;  but  keep  in  your 
Strong  Hold,  your  Rock,  and  Foundation,  Christ  Jesus; 
nor  let  any  thing  divert  you  from  minding  his  kingdom 
of  peace  above  all,  which  is  not  of  this  world;  out  of 
which  men's  lusts  and  the  ground  and  occasion  of  wars 
and  fighting  are  excluded  ;  for  u)  Salem  is  his  taber- 
nacle. 

O  I  let  all  quietly  wait  upon  the  all- seeing,  righteous, 
holy  God,  in  order  to  see  his  good  end  through  all,  and 
his  righteous  determination  and  decision  of  the  contro- 
versies amongst  men.  And  keep  in  innocency  and 
peaceable  conversation  towards  all,  and  inoifensively 
under  and  towards  the  civil  government,  giving  no  real 
occasion  of  offence;  but,  as  becomes  true  Christians, 
walk  in  love  and  good  will  towards  all,  both  high  and 
low ;  for  herein  hath  been  and  will  be  our  safety  and 
confidence  through  all  our  trials,  being  preserved  by 
the  power  and  goodness  of  the  Lord  our  God,  as  his 
peculiar  people,  who  is  our  Stay,  our  Rock,  and  Re- 


1()4  APPENDIX. 

fuge  :  blessed  be  his  name  for  ever !  O  !  forget  not  to 
praise  the  Lord,  for  all  his  tender  mercies  and  peculiar 
favours  and  goodness  in  our  preservation  until  this  day  ; 
knowing  also,  that  they  who  sincerely  and  steadfastly 
trust  in  his  name  and  power,  shall  be  as  mount  Sion 
that  shall  never  be  removed  ;  and  that  as  his  servant 
David  declared :  "  It  is  better  to  trust  in  the  Lord,  than 
to  put  confidence  in  man :  it  is  better  to  trust  in  the 
Lord,  than  to  put  confidence  in  princes,"  Ps.  cxviii,  8, 
9 ;  T  pray  Cod  keep  all  his  people  in  a  steady  depend- 
ance  upon  Ilim,  and  confidence  in  Him  to  the  end. 

Finally,  my  tenderly  beloved  Friends  and  brethren, 
having  thus  far  cleared  my  conscience  in  the  sight  of 
God,  in  the  living  sense  of  his  presence  and  counsel  in 
these  matters,  as  relating  to  several  states  and  dangers, 
I  recommend  all  to  the  faithful  and  true  Witness  in 
themselves,  to  make  the  particular  and  just  applica- 
tion, and  to  make  every  one  sensible  of  the  weight  and 
lively  impressions  of  these  and  all  other  Christian  cau- 
tions and  warnings,  proceeding  from  thence  through 
any  of  the  servants  of  Christ,  for  the  safety  and  peace 
of  all  the  Lord's  people  among  us;  even  to  the  least 
and  lowest  of  his  flock,  and  those  convinced  among  us, 
who  are  called  by  his  grace  to  the  confession  of  his 
holy  name  and  Truth. 

The  God  of  peace  be  with  you  all  and  bless  you,  and 
encrease  rigliteousness,  peace,  love,  and  union  among 
his  people  every  where,  that  all  may  be  steadfast  in 
the  Truth,  true  and  faithful  in  their  day  and  time,  to 
the  end  of  their  days  :  amen,  amen. 

Your  faithful  friend  and  brother  in  Christ, 

George  Whitehead* 

London,  tho  2fith  of 
the  7th  tno.  1689.. 


(165) 


THE 

PEOPLE  CALLED  QUAHERS 

TRULY  REPRESENTED 

And  vindicated  from  some  Mistakes,  vjhercin  they  are 

misrepresented  in   the   Representation  of  the 

Lower  House  of  Convocation.* 


Printed  in  the  year  1712. 


Seeing  it  is  not  unknown  that  we,  the  said  people, 
profess  faith  in  God  the  Father,  and  in  his  dear  eternal 
Son  Jesus  Christ,  and  in  the  Holy  Spirit,  One  God 

*  Perhaps  the  following  note  may  he  acceptible  to  some  readers. 

The  Convocation  of  the  English  clergy,  at  least  that  of  the  pro- 
vince of  Canterburj',  had  in  ancient  times  considerable  power.  It 
determined  the  taxation  to  be  paid  by  the  clergy,  enacted  ecclesi- 
astical canons,  and  was  consulted  by  the  government  on  important 
matt»'rs  affecting  the  national  profession  of  religion.  Their  power 
having  been  much  abridged,  they  had  been  very  inactive  for  some 
time  ;  when,  subsequently  to  the  revolution  in  16S8,  the  party  most 
opposed  to  the  new  order  of  things,  "  sedulously  propagated  a 
doctrine,  that  the  Convocation  ought  to  be  advised  with  upon  all 
questions  affecting  the  church,  and  onght  even  to  v/atch  over  its 
interests,  as  the  parliament  did  over  those  of  the  kingdom."  By 
this  means  the  activity  of  the  clergy,  and  especially  of  the  high 
church  party  was  stirred  up  in  these  synods  ;  and  as  they  had  been 
chiefly  promoted  by  tliose  who  were  most  favourable  to  arbitrary 
civil  power  and  ecclesiastical  domination,  so  their  proceedings  were 
characterized  by  the  same  spirit :  and  it  is  worthy  of  notice,  that 
whilst  fulminating  against  the  poor  Quakers,  and  those  great  prin- 
ciples of  religious  liberty  which  now  pass  for  incontrovertible  tru- 
isms, the  Lower  House  distinguished  itself  by  the  most  factious 


166  APPENDIX. 

blessed  for  ever  more ;  and  that  we  do  acknowledge 
the  Holy  Scriptures  of  the  Old  and  New  Testament  to 
be  given  by  Divine  Inspiration,  according  as  expressed 
in  the  Act  of  Exemption  or  Toleration,  anno  primo 
Gulielmi  ct  Mariaj,  which  being  legally  provided,  and 
by  us  sincerely  and  publicly  owned  to  authority,  and 
one  condition  of  our  present  and  religious  liberty;  we 
think  it  very  hard  and  undue  measure,  as  well  as  un- 
charitable, to  be  joined  either  with  Socinians  or  Arians, 
and  branded  with  "  infidelity,  damnable  errors,"  which 
you  say  have  been  "  embraced  and  propagated  by  the 
sect  of  Quakers,  whom,  in  several  of  their  treatises, 
catechisms,  and  primers,  have  taught  the  rudiments  of 
Christian  faith  in  such  a  manner,  as  to  make  it  seem  to 
be  little  more  than  a  complicated  system  of  deism  and 
enthusiasm ;"  to  which  is  added,  "  from  the  wicked 
principles  thus  disseminated,  as  wicked  practices  have 
followed." 

Unlo  all  which  we  sincerely  and  humbly  answer: 
I.  We  know  nothing,  in  point  of  Christian  doctrine 
and  principle,  more  openly  dnd  apparently  asserted 
and  propagated  by  the  said  people  called  Quakers, 
than  the  Divinitv  of  Christ,  and  essential  union  of  the 
Father,  Son,  and  Holy  Ghost.  This  holy  and  blessed 
Scripture  Trinity  we  have  always  stood  for,  in  -real 
faith  and  practice. 

n.  The  Divinity  of  our  blessed  Lord  and  Saviour 
Jesus  Christ,  that  He  is  the  Eternal  Word,  the  true 
God,  as  well  as  truly  man ;  being  expressly  agreeable 
to  Holy  Scripture  testimony,  viz.  *that  he  is  the  Mighty 


spirit,  and  especially  by  insolence  towards  the  bishops  who  were 
less  bigotted,  and  whom  wliile  i)retending  to  assert  tlic  Divine  right 
of  episcopacy,  they  laboured  to  deprive  ot' their  lawful  prectninenco 
in  the  Anglican  synod.  "  In  the  ferment  of  that  age,"  says  Hal- 
1am,  "it  was  expedient  for  tho  state  to  scatter  a  little  dust  over 
the  angry  insects;  the  Convocation  was  accordingly  prorogued  in 
1717,  and  has  never  again  sat  for  any  business."  Const.  Hist.  Vol. 
III. 

*   Isa.  ix.  6. 


APPENDIX.  167 

God,  &c.  *the  Eternal  Word,  whereby  all  things  were 
made ;  fwho  is  over  all,  God  blessed  for  ever :  JGod 
created  all  things  by.  Jesus  Christ;  §who  is  the  true 
God  and  Eternal  Life ;  by  whom  also  the  worlds  were 
made ;  the  Divine  ||three  that  bear  record  in  heaven, 
the  Father,  the  Word,  and  the  Holy  Ghost,  and  these 
three  are  One. 

The  blessed  Trinity  in  the  unity  of  Divine  Essence, 
is  manifest  in  the  wonderful  works  of  God,  both  in  the 
old  and  new  creation,  and  the  mystery  thereof  reveal- 
ed and  experienced  in  the  new  birth. 

III.  Thus  we  sincerely  believe  and  confess  the  Divi- 
nity and  Deity  of  the  Eternal  Son  of  God,  Christ  Jesus, 
with  respect  to  his  being  the  Eternal  Word,  which  was 
in  the  llbeginning;  **before  Abraham  was;  fffrom 
Everlasting ;  JJglorified  with  the  Father  before  the 
world  began  ;  and  in  respect  to  the  fulness  of  the  God- 
head (yea,  all  fulness)  §§dwelling  in  Him;  and  as  ||||all 
power  in  heaven  and  earth  is  given  unto  Him ;  and  as 
by  whom  also  TIffGod  made  the  worlds. 

All  which  seriously  considered,  thus  to  assert  the  glo- 
rious Divinity  of  the  Son  of  God,  cannot  be  inconsistent 
with  his  Divine  wisdom,  love,  and  great  condescension 
in  assuming  the  holy  humanity,  his  pure  and  perfect 
manhood  for  our  sakes,  even  for  the  redemption  of 
mankind.  "  Without  controversy,  great  is  the  mystery 
of  Godliness,"  saith  the  apostle,  1  Tim.  iii.  16,  "God 
was  manifest  in  the  flesh,  justified  in  the  Spirit,"  &c. 
And  surely  excellent  is  the  mystery  of  Christ,  and  the 
true  spiritual  knowledge  of  Him,  and  his  riches  un- 
searchable.    Ephe-s.  iii.  4—9.  2  Cor.  v.  16.    Col.  i.  27. 

IV.  The  immortality  of  the  soul  of  man,  and  the 
true  notions  and  distinctions  of  good  and  evil,  together 
with  the  just  judgments  and  suitable  rewards,  whether 


*  John  i.  +  Rom.  ix.  5.  %  Ephes.  iii.  9. 

}  Heb.  i.  II 1  John  v.  7.  V  John  i.  1—4. 

**  John  viii.  58.  ttMic.  v.  2.  ifj  John  ivii.  5. 

\\  Col.  i.  19.  ii.  9.  nil  Malt  xxviii.  18.  T^Heb.i.2.xi.  3. 


168  APPENDIX. 

in  this  or  the  next  life,  we  never  deemed  groundless  or 
vain,  as  the  ranters,  corrupt  libertines,  and  atheists 
have  done  and  do:  but  coListantly  believe  and  assert 
the  righteousness  of  God,  in  justifying  the  righteous 
and  condemning  the  wicked  :  "  For  we  must  all  appear 
before  the  judgment  seat  of  Christ,  that  every  one  may 
receive  the  things  done  in  his  body,  according  to  that 
he  hath  done,  whether  it  be  good  or  bad."  2  Cor.  v.  10. 

V.  As  to  infidelity  and  damnable  errors,  &,c.  charged 
upon  the  Quakers ;  as  we  are  not  conscious  to  ourselves 
thereof,  we  do  not  find  any  colour  of  proof  nor  whence 
they  originally  arose  ;  except  from  some  persecuting 
adversaries'  bitter  invectives,  or  pamphlets  of  some 
apostates,  who  are  gone  out  from  us  into  enmity,  and 
dissembling  conformists,  to  ingratiate  themselves  into 
ffivour  and  credit  with  the  Church  of  England,  by  per- 
verting our  principles  and  calumniating  us  and  our 
Christian  religion  and  Society.  And  we  know  no  cat- 
echisms or  primers  owned  or  promoted  among  us,  about 
the  rules  of  the  Christian  faith,  but  such  as  are  agreea- 
ble to  Holy  Scripture.  Witness  Robert  Barclay's  Cat- 
echism, and  the  Christian  testimonies  and  answers  of 
divers  other  approved  authors  among  us,  wherein  the 
forementioned  doctrines  and  principles  of  the  Christian 
faith  are  sincerely  asserted  ;  although  we  have  been 
greatly  misrepresented  by  some  of  our  adversaries'  false 
and  fictitious  catechisms,  in  our  names,  mock  dialogues 
and  trials,  and  silly,  idle  romances,  &c. 

VI.  Our  embracing  and  confessing  Christ  Jesus,  as 
the  true  Light  which  enlightens  mankind,  and  the  in- 
spiration and  guidance  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  under  the 
New  Covenant  Dispensation,  has  been  by  some  ignorant 
and  anti-christian  spirits,  in  contempt,  rendered  deism 
and  enthusiasm,  though  the  same  be  often  prayed  for 
and  confessed  in  the  liturgy  of  the  church  of  England. 
And  we  hope  our  embracing  those  Christian  principles, 
namely,  that  of  the  true  Light,  John  i..  Divine  Inspira- 
tion, and  being  led  by  the  Spirit  of  God,  John  xvi.  13, 
Rom.  viii.  14,  will  not  produce  any  wicked  practices, 


APPENDIX.  169 

as  dissolute  behaviour,  oaths,  imprecations,  growth  of 
immorality,  profaneness,  drunl^enness,  and  lewdness, 
&c.  all  which  are  utter  abominations  to  our  religious 
and  Christian  principles  and  Society ;  and  therefore 
ought  not  to  be  imputed  to  us  or  our  profession,  as  any 
cause  thereof.  But  it  is  rather  feared,  that  the  igno- 
rance, libertinism,  and  debauchery  of  too  many  of  the 
priests  in  this  nation,  have  in  a  great  measure  contri- 
buted thereunto ;  together  with  the  former  books,  al- 
lowing sports  and  pastimes  on  the  Sabbath  day. 

VII.  It  is  very  sad  and  lamentable,  that  infidelity, 
libertinism,  and  scepticism  should  so  much  abound  and 
prevail  in  any  Church  professing  Christianity,  as  in  this 
nation  where  so  much  of  religion  and  holiness  of  pro- 
fession and  conversation  are  pretended.  But  people's 
fruits  must  show  whose  plants  and  what  trees  they  are. 

VIII.  We  believe  as  you  say,  and  it  is  matter  of 
sorrow  and  grief  of  heart :  "  That  one  fountain  from 
whence  the  corruptions  of  religion  and  morality  have 
flowed,  is  on  your  theatres ;  and  that  things  sacred  and 
serious  have  been  handled  after  the  most  ludicrous 
manner,  &c. ;  and  that  on  them  obscenity,  blasphe- 
mous allusions  to  Holy  Writ,  and  various  sorts  of  pro- 
faneness have  abounded,  &c. ;  and  that  the  vicious 
images,  painted  to  the  life,  have  made  such  impressions 
on  the  minds  of  the  young  and  unwary  as  are  not  easy 
to  be  defaced." 

And  the  like  account  is  given  by  the  Upper  House 
in  their  representation,  viz.  "  That  this  profaneness 
hath  been  much  increased  by  the  licentiousness  of  the 
stage,  where  the  worst  examples  have  been  recommend- 
ed to  imitation."  And  further,  they  propose  to  the 
queen,  viz.  "  We  entertain  not  the  least  doubt  of  your 
majesty's  firm  resolution  to  render  the  laws  and  pro- 
clamations, set  forth  for  the  suppression  of  immorality 
and  profaneness,  useful  to  that  purpose,  by  an  impar- 
tial and  vigorous  execution  of  them ;  and  to  reform  the 
corruptions  of  the  stage,  which  have  been  so  instrumen- 

yoL.  II.  p 


170  APPENDIX. 

tal  in  vitiating  young  and  innocent  nninds,  and  given  so 
just  offence  to  ail  serious  and  devout  Christians." 

We  heartily  wish  that  what  both  your  houses  have 
proposed  in  this  case  last  mentioned,  may  be  truly  pur- 
sued ;  so  as  the  government  may  be  prevailed  upon 
totally  to  suppress,  remove,  and  prohibit  those  stage 
plays  and  the  actors  of  them,  seeing  they  are  of  so  irre- 
ligious and  impious  a  tendency,  and  cause  of  ridiculing 
true  religion  and  debauching  youth.  We  are  persuad- 
ed they  are  greatly  offensive  to  God,  and  injurious  to 
many  poor  souls ;  and  we  think  it  behoves  you  to  en- 
quire, if  some  of  your  priests  do  not  resort  to  those  play 
houses,  especially  of  the  younger  sort,  as  is  reported ; 
and  how  culpable  such  are  if  they  do.  And  whether 
it  be  not  a  great  dishonour  to  your  profession  and  func- 
tion, for  any  of  them  to  take  the  severest,  most  charge- 
able, and  ruinous  courses,  in  prosecuting  divers  of  our 
Friends  for  small  tithes,  as  unto  imprisonments,  seques- 
trations, &c.  seeing  they  have  a  more  easy  way  to  re- 
cover them  by  late  laws?  Is  not  this  severe  course 
rather  an  indication  of  revenge,  than  of  Christianity  or 
humanity  1  And  we  think  you  cannot  reasonably  sup- 
pose, that  such  unmerciful ness  and  oppressions  will  any 
ways  redound  or  tend  to  the  honour  of  your  religion, 
church,  or  profession. 

About  restraining  the  press,  so  much  pressed,  there 
had  need  to  be  a  just  and  equal  care  that  it  be  not  put 
into  the  power  of  any  one  party,  to  judge,  stop,  or  li- 
cense books,  as  they  please  ;  for  therein  may  be  great 
partiality  and  injustice,  in  permitting  only  books  of  their 
own  party,  if  they  relate  to  their  religious  persuasions, 
and  stopping  all  others ;  and  then  many  that  may  be 
unjustly  defamed  and  grossly  calumniated,  and  their 
principles  perverted  (as  many  have  been  served)  by 
scandalous  pamphlets,  fictitious  romances,  and  false  di- 
alogues, would  not  be  suffered  to  answer  in  defence  of 
themselves ;  which  would  be  very  unfair,  partial,  and 
unjust,  if  the  press  should  be  restrained  only  to  a  party. 
Yet  it  is  very  meet  it  should  be  so  far  restrained,  as 


APPENDIX.  171 

not  to  be  suffered  to  print  either  seditious  news,  or  pam- 
phlets against  the  government,  or  tending  to  introduce 
or  promote  vice,  immorality,  impiety,  or  profaneness  ; 
and  that  all  licentious,  obscene  books  and  pamphlets, 
tending  to  deprave  and  vitiate  youth,  be  stopped  and 
suppressed. 

To  conclude,  the  premises  seriously  considered,  we 
pray  you  be  more  charitable  in  your  judgment  towards 
us,  and  do  as  you  would  be  done  by  ;  and  not  ready  to 
credit  or  receive  reproaches  or  calumnies  against  us, 
the  said  people,  from  invidious  incendiaries,  tending  to 
raise  persecution ;  for  that  would  not  tend  to  the  glory 
of  God,  your  honour,  or  inward  peace. 

We  humbly  hope  the  queen  of  Great  Britain,  (whom 
God  preserve,)  is  better  principled  and  more  just,  than 
to  prejudge  us  upon  injurious  misrepresentations,  or  to 
receive  evil  reports  or  aspersions  against  us,  who  are 
her  peaceable  protestant  subjects. 

G.  Whitehead. 
W.  Mead. 


(  172  ) 


A  BRIEF  ENQUIRY 

Upon  an  Invidious  Boole,  or  Pamphlet,  styled,  "JL 
Winding-sheet  for  Quakerism;"  lately  delivered  to 
the  mc?nbers  of  parliament ;  and  also  said  to  be '■'■  A 
hriif  enquiry  into  the  toleration  of  the  Quakers ;  by 
Edward  Cockson,"  who  styles  himself  M.  A.  Rec- 
tor of  Westcot  Barton  in  the  County  of  Oxon. 

Together  with  a  few  Queries,  proposed  to  the  Lower 
House  of  Convocation,  relating  to  the  said  book,  se- 
riously to  consider  of. 


Whereas  the  design  and  scope  of  the  said  pretended 
Winding-sheet  appears  to  be  against  the  toleration,  and 
to  have  the  same  taken  away,  especially  from  the  peo- 
ple called  Quakers  in  the  first  place,  as  being  the  prin- 
cipal objects  of  his  envy  and  fury,  the  meaning  thereof 
is,  to  take  away  the  liberty  of  their  conscience,  respect- 
ing their  religious  exercise  in  the  worship  of  God  in 
their  solemn  assemblies,  legally  tolerated  ;  which  to  de- 
prive them  of,  would  tend  either  to  make  them  athiests, 
or  hypocritical  conformisls;  or  rather,  if  that  cannot 
be  ellccted,  to  expose  them  to  all  such  severities,  pe- 
nalties, and  persecutions,  as  formerly  they  suffered 
deeply  under;  and  not  only  so,  but  the  same  legal  se- 
verities and  sanguinary  punishments,  as,  under  the  law 
of  Moses,  were  provided  against  blasphemers  of  the 
name  of  God,  false  prophets,  and  other  high  offenders, 
are  urged  and  applied  against  the  said  people,  and  as 
being  still  in  force  under  the  Gospel  administration,  p. 
G.  As  if  nothing  would  satisfy  his  fury,  short  of  the 
utter  destruction  of  the  said  people.     And  for  what 


APPENDIX.  173 

cause  alleged  or  pretended  by  him  ?  Even  for  no  less 
than  heresies  and  blasphemies.  Oh  sad  !  And  what  are 
those  chiefly,  viz. 

1.  "That  the  professors  of  Quakerism  prefer  hea- 
thenism to  true  Christianity,"  p.  3. 

Ansioer.  That  were  a  sad  error  and  heresy  indeed, 
to  prefer  heathenism  to  true  Christianity,  if  we  may 
take  heathenism  to  be  idolatry  and  impiety,  as  truly  it 
is.  But  it  is  a  gross  falsehood  and  perversion  against 
the  people  called  Quakers,  and  not  deducible  from 
their  writings,  if  justly  quoted.  For  herein  the  man 
puts  no  difference  between  heathenism,  and  the  gentile 
divinity  professed,  together  with  the  piety  and  morality 
practised  by  many  of  the  philosophers  and  others ; 
both  of  which  the  Quakers  have  commended,  not  pre- 
ferred to  true  Christianity,  but  as  agreeable  thereto, 
and  included  therein,  against  all  false  Christians  and 
hypocrites,  under  the  profession  of  Christianity,  pervert- 
ed and  abused  by  their  sin  pleasing  and  sinners'  indul- 
ging doctrines  and  corrupt  conversations,  who  argue  for 
continuance  of  sin  the  term  of  life,  contrary  to  the  di- 
vinity, piety,  and  Christianity  found  in  divers  heathen 
writers.  This  is  the  true  state  of  the  Quakers'  case, 
in  the  point. 

2.  "  As  for  us  of  the  Church  of  England,  their  spite 
against  us  is  most  superlative,"  p.  3. 

Answer.  This  is  a  great  mistake  ;  we  do  not  hate  any 
of  their  persons ;  no,  not  the  priests,  but  their  corrupt 
practices,  covetousncss,  envy,  pride,  persecution,  where 
found  among  them  who  persecute  and  imprison  our 
Friends,  and  many  times  take  away  their  goods  to 
great  excess;  sometimes  for  a  small  value  claimed. 

3.  "  That  their  great  Robert  Barclay  advise! h  to 
have  our  glebes  and  tithes  taken  from  us,  and  to  put 
them  into  the  public  treasury  for  the  payment  of  taxes : 
and  declares,  that  this  is  the  only  way  soundly  to  re- 
form us,"  p.  4.  Apol.  p.  340. 

Anszuer.  A  sad  complaint !  How  hard  would  this 
pinch  mercenary  preachers !  Yet  we  hope  it  will  not 

p  2 


174  APPENDIX. 

prove  us  heretics  or  guilty  of  heresy ;  no  more  than 
Christ's  ministers  were,  in  preaching  the  Gospel  freely, 
as  they  had  freely  received  and  were  commanded  by 
Him. 

And  the  apostle  Paul  was  so  much  of  Robert  Bar- 
clay's mind,  as  that  tithes  and  oblations,  or  otrerings, 
were  discontinued  under  the  Gospel  Dispensation,  as 
being  ended  by  Christ  Jesus,  the  one  Oflcring ;  and  the 
priesthood  that  took  tithes  changed  from  Levi  to  Christ, 
who  came  of  the  tribe  of  Judah,  not  of  Levi.  And 
many  of  the  protestant  reformers  and  martyrs  were 
also  of  the  same  judgment,  against  the  payment  of 
tithes  under  the  Gospel  and  New  Covenant  Dispensa- 
tion. And  how  strongly  and  clearly  does  the  apostle 
argue  this  case,  for  Christ's  ending  the  first  priesthood 
and  law  of  tithes  and  olFerings!     Heb.  vii — x. 

4.  On  Heh.  X.  23.  28,  29,  "  The  whole  place,"  saith 
the  rector,  "seems  chiefly  to  have  respect  to  such  he- 
retics as  deny  Christ  Jesus,  and  the  efficacy  of  his 
blood,  as  it  is  plain  the  Quakers  do,"  quoth  he,  p.  7. 

Answer.  Where  is  it  plain,  that  the  Quakers  deny 
Christ  Jesus,  and  the  efficacy  of  his  blood  ?  I  am  sure 
such  denial  is  expressly  contrary  to  the  principle  and 
profession  of  the  people  called  Quakers ;  and  therefore 
this  adversary  might  have  been  horribly  ashamed  to 
rank  the  said  people  among  heretics,  upon  such  noto- 
rious calumnies,  thereby  to  render  them  incapable  of 
the  toleration,  and  consequently  to  expose  them  to  se- 
vere persecutions  and  ruin. 

5.  "  About  (he  Sacred  Trinity,"  he  saith,  "  that  the 
Quakers  cannot,  dare  not  honestly  declare  the  same, 
in  the  same  sense  the  compilers  of  the  Act  of  Tolera- 
tion understood  the  words,  viz.  That  God  the  Father 
is  a  distinct  person  from  Jesus  Christ,  and  from  the 
Holy  Spirit;  and  that  they  are  such  a  Three,  as  nei- 
ther arc,  nor  can  be  more  or  less  than  Three,"  p.  11. 

Answer,  We  hope  we  are  not  justly  chargeable  with 
heresy,  for  confessing  the  blessed  Trinity  or  Divine 
Three,  in  Holy  Scripture  terms,  according  as  is  declar- 


ArrENDix.  175 

ed  in  the  said  act,  viz.  '•  That  we,  the  said  people,  do 
profess  faith  in  God  the  Father,  and  in  Jesus  Christ  his 
Eternal  Son,  and  in  the  Holy  Spirit,  One  God  blessed 
for  over." 

'I'hough  this  profession  and  confession  has  given  sa- 
tisfaction to  the  civil  government,  as  being  both  Chris- 
tian and  scriptural,  yet  it  does  not  satisfy  the  said  rec- 
tor ;  but  he  will  needs  make  himself  an  expositor  of  the 
sense  and  understanding  of  the  law-makers,  p.  II,  and 
would  impose  other  terms  than  the  law  requires  in  the 
case.  We  think  it  very  unfair  and  uncharitable,  to 
be  deemed  guilty  of  heresy  for  not  confessing  our  faith 
in  unscrlptural  terms  ;  while  we  confess  the  Eternal 
Deity  in  plain  Scripture  terms,  also  allowed  of  by  act 
of  parliament,  as  the  Father,  the  Son,  and  Holy  Spirit, 
Matt.  xxvIII.  19.  1  John  v.  7,  and  their  union  in  the 
Divine  Essence. 

Observ  e,  Edward  Cockson,  M.  A.  rector,  so  called, 
in  order  to  have  the  people  called  Quakers  punished, 
thus  proceeds  to  instances,  viz. 

Page  5.  "  God  hath  imprinted  It  in  the  hearts  of  all 
mankind,  to  vindicate  his  honour,  and  to  punish  all  that 
are  under  their  jurisdiction  who  dishonour  Him.  Thus 
Artaxerxes,  king  of  Persia,  having  granted  to  the  Jews 
that  v.'ere  in  his  dominions,  that  as  many  of  them  as 
pleased  might  return  with  Ezra  to  Jerusalem,  he  there- 
upon makes  a  decree  for  the  establishment  of  the  true 
worship  of  the  true  God,  &c.  And  mark  what  follows  : 
*  Whosoever  will  not  do  the  law  of  thy  God,  and  the 
law  of  the  king,  let  judgment  be  executed  speedily 
upon  him,  whether  It  be  unto  death,  or  to  banishment, 
or  to  confiscation  of  goods,  or  to  imprisonment,'  Ezra 
vii.  13.  25,  20.  And  Ezra  blessed  God  for  this  decree, 
and  put  It  In  execution  accordingly,"  Ezra  x.  7,  8. 

Whereupon  I  query  of  the  said  Convocation,  viz. 

Qiurij  1,     How  can  this  instance  warrant  or  excuse 

persecution  against  peaceable  dissenting    protestants, 

either  to  death,  banishment,  confiscation  of  goods,  or 

imprisonment,  for  worshipping  the  true  God  as  per- 


176  APPENDIX. 

suaded  in  conscience,   though  diiTcring  in  manner  or 
form  from  that  which  is  national  I 

2.  Did  not  the  said  king  of  Persia  grant  free  hberty 
of  conscience  to  the  Jews,  to  worship  the  God  of  hea- 
ven as  it  was  imprinted  in  their  hearts,  or  they  per- 
suaded according  to  his  laws  1  Where  was  then  any 
compulsion  to  the  contrary,  so  as  to  enforce  them  to 
any  national  worship  of  the  Persians  or  other  nations? 

3.  And  was  not  Artaxerxes,  king  of  Persia,  both 
charitable  and  generous  to  Israel,  in  granting  them 
such  free  liberty  as  that  as  many  of  them  as  were 
minded,  of  their  own  free  will,  should  go  up  to  Jerusa- 
lem with  Ezra  1  Also  alTording  them  great  accommo- 
dation and  encouragement,  Ezra  vii. ;  as  also  did  Cyrus, 
king  of  Persia,  before  him,  chap.  i. 

4.  And  did  not  the  Lord  put  it  into  the  hearts  of 
these  great  kings,  to  grant  this  free  religious  liberty  and 
encouragement  unto  his  people  ? 

5.  And  did  they  not  therein  excel  all  persecuting 
kings  and  emperors,  and  all  such  piiests  as  would  in- 
cense rulers  to  persecute  us  for  our  religion  and  con- 
science towards  God  ? 

6.  But  will  nothing  serve  or  please  your  rector 
now,  against  the  Quakers,  but  either  the  penalty  of 
death,  or  banishment,  or  confiscation  of  goods,  or  im- 
prisonment 1  These  have  been  tried  already,  in  great 
measure,  for  their  peaceable,  religious,  and  solemn  as- 
semblies ;  though  the  said  king  of  Persia  could  never 
intend  those  penalties  against  Israel  for  their  religion 
or  worship,  having  so  greatly  encouraged  them  therein. 

Rector,  p.  G.  "  lie  only  who  was  supreme  was  pro- 
perly custos  utriusque  tabula;,  to  him  was  committed 
the  care  to  punish  murderers,  adulterers,  and  thieves, 
&c.  and  also  idolaters,  blasphemers,  filsc  prophets,  &c. 
none  of  which  he  was  to  tolerate,  but  to  root  them  out 
of  his  dominions,  Exod.  xxii.  18,  20.  Deiit,  xiii.  1,  2,  3, 
.').  xvii.  2-7,  12.  Lev.  xxiv.  16,  with  many  other  places. 
Now  that  these  commands  are  obligatory  to  Christian 
magistrates,  under  the  Gospel  administration  also,  will 


APPENDIX.  177 

appear  if  we  consider,  1st,  That  none  of  them  were 
ever  revoked,  repealed,  or  cancelled  by  Christ  or  any 
of  his  apostles.  2ndly,  Ratio  iminutabilis  facit  prsecep- 
tum  imniutabile,  the  very  same  reasons  for  which 
these  commandments  were  at  tirst  given,  remain  still 
and  are  as  strong  as  ever.  Blasphemies,  idolatries,  and 
false  prophecies  are  the  same  sins  still,  and  God  is  the 
same  God  still,  and  hates  these  sins  as  much  now  as 
ever." 

Whereupon  1  enquire  of  the  Convocation  : 
Q.  1.  Are  you  of  the  same  judgment  or  opinion 
with  your  rector,  that  blasphemers  and  false  prophets 
and  false  teachers  are  to  be  stoned  to  death  by  Chris- 
tian magistrates,  under  the  Gospel  administration,  as 
blasphemers  and  false  prophets  were  under  the  law  of 
Moses,  Deut.  xiii.  quoted  by  the  rector?  And  must 
Gospel  ministers  now  be  judges  in  cases  of  life  and 
death,  as  priests  were  then  ?     Deut.  xvii.  9-12. 

Rector,  p.  7.  "  And  God  has  the  same  power  to  pun- 
ish now  as  ever.  If  therefore  God  hath  at  any  time 
forbidden  those  sins.  He  forbids  them  still ;  and  the 
same  punishments  that  by  his  command  were  once  to 
be  inflicted  for  them,  are  still  to  be  inflicted,  till  they 
are  by  Him  revoked  or  altered ;  for  where  the  same 
causes  for  the  same  punishments  are  perpetual,  there 
the  same  punishments  ought  to  be  perpetual  also." 

2.  Note,  under  the  administration  of  the  law  of 
Moses,  and  Old  Covenant,  not  only  false  prophets,  blas- 
phemers, and  idolaters,  &c.  but  also  sabbath-breakers, 
rebellious  sons  to  their  parents,  as  drunkards,  riotous 
persons,  whoremongers,  and  adulterers,  were  to  be 
stoned  to  death.  Lev.  xx.  2.  xxiv.'14,  15.  Numb,  xv.35, 
36.  Deut.  xiii.  5,  10.  xvii.  5,  xxi.  21.  and  xxii.  21,  24. 

3.  Are  you  of  the  same  judgment  with  your  rector 
in  these  cases,  that  all  such  oifenders  as  mentioned 
should  be  stoned  to  death,  under  the  Gospel  adminis- 
tration, by  Christian  magistrates  ? 

4.  And  would  it  not  atfect  and  somewhat  thin  your 
own  society  or  Church,  to  have  all  whoremongers  and 


178  APPENDIX. 

adulterers,  rebellious  sons  and  false  teachers  stoned  to 
death  ?  And  would  not  that  make  sad  and  bloody  work 
in  the  land  ?  Or  would  that  be  the  way  to  convert 
such  ofFenders,  or  send  them  to  heaven? 

5.  Has  your  rector  in  these  cases  preached  like  a 
minister  of  Christ,  of  the  Gospel  or  New  Testament  ? 

6.  Did  our  blessed  Lord  Jesus  Christ  give  sentence 
against  the  woman  taken  in  adultery,  that  she  should 
be  stoned  to  death  ?  Or  rather  did  He  not  show  more 
mercy  to  her  than  her  accusers  and  persecutors  would 
have  done,  when  He  convicted  and  silenced  them,  and 
said  unto  her:  "  Hath  no  man  condemned  thee  ?"  "No, 
Lord,"  said  she.  "  Neither  do  1  condemn  thee,"  said 
He  ;  "  go  and  sin  no  more,"  Jnhn  viii.  S-IL 

Rector,  p.  7.  "  The  New  Testament  is  so  far  from 
repealing  those  laws,  (that  is,  of  the  Old,)  that  it  rather 
more  strongly  enforces  them.  For  the  apostle  having 
exhorted  us  to  hold  fast  the  profession  of  our  faith  with- 
out wavering,  &lc.  Hcb.  x.  23-27,  he  adds,  vcr.  28,  29  : 
"  He  that  despised  Moses'  law,  died  without  mercy  un- 
der two  or  three  witnesses  :  of  how  much  sorer  pun- 
ishment, suppose  ye,  shall  he  be  thought  worthy,  who 
hath  trodden  under  foot  the  Son  of  God,"  &c.  The 
whole  place  seems  to  have  respect  to  such  heretics  as 
deny  Christ  Jesus,  and  the  efficacy  of  his  blood,  as  it  is 
plain  the  (Quakers  do,"  &c. 

Q.  L  What  sorer  punishment  would  your  rector 
have  inflicted  upon  the  Quakers  than  death  ? 

Note,  but  he  is  a  false  accuser  and  an  unjust  judge 
therein,  and  this  charge  against  the  Quakers  mentioned, 
is  utterly  false,  and  contrary  to  our  Christian  principle, 
of  our  love  and  respect  to  our  dear  Lord  and  Saviour 
Jesus  Christ,  and  his  precious  blood,  &c. 

2.  But  if  we  were  guilty  of  error  or  heresy  in  this, 
or  any  other  point  of  Christianity,  vvere  it  not  more 
Christian  for  your  rector,  in  a  Gospel  spirit,  to  endea- 
vour our  conviction  and  conversion  by  Holy  Scripture, 
on  a  true  state  of  matter  of  fact,  than  to  endeavour  our 
destruction,  or  to  have  us  stoned  to  death,  or  our  brains 


APPENDIX.  179 

knocked  out  1  we  being  really  unwilling  to  be  tenacious 
in  any  error,  if  convicted  thereof.  May  we  not  say  : 
"  From  all  such  cruel,  hard  hearted,  and  unmerciful 
men,  good  Lord  deliver  us  ?" 

Rector,  p.  7.  ibid.  "  This  very  thing  was  prophesied 
of,  even  in  Gospel  times,  that  in  those  very  days  false 
prophets  should  be  cut  off,  Zech.  xiii.  2,  3.  And  St. 
Peter  makes  false  prophets  and  false  teachers  to  be 
equivalent,  2  Pet.  ii.  1,  &c." 

Whereupon  I  enquire  of  the  Convocation  : 

Q.  1.  Does  your  judgment  agree  with  your  rector's 
concerning  that  prophecy,  Zech.  xiii.  2,  3 ;  that  is,  that 
the  same  was  intended  for  Gospel  times,  or  that  under 
the  New  Testament  or  Gospel  administration,  false  pro- 
phets and  false  teachers  should  be  cut  off  by  the  magis- 
trate's sword,  or  stoned  to  death  ? 

Note,  of  false  prophets,  mentioned  Zech.  xiii.  2,  3, 
who  were  to  be  cut  off,  ver.  3,  it  is  said :  "  And  when 
any  shall  yet  prophesy,  his  father  and  his  mother  that 
begat  him  shall  say  unto  him,  thou  shalt  not  live,  for 
thou  speakest  lies  in  the  name  of  the  Lord ;  and  his 
father  and  his  mother  shall  thrust  him  through  when 
he  prophesieth." 

2.  Must  his  father  and  mother  then  be  his  execu- 
tioners in  the  Gospel  times,  literally  taken,  as  your 
rector  seems  to  carry  the  text,  Zech.  xiii.  2,  3,  to  have 
such  as  he  deems  false  prophets  and  hereticks,  &-c.  cut 
off  and  put  to  death  ?  And  if  by  their  fathers  and  mo- 
thers, what  bloody,  unnatural,  and  inhuman  work  would 
this  make  among  professed  Christians,  for  parents  to 
kill  their  own  children ! 

3.  And  where  do  you  find  any  texts  in  the  New  Tes- 
tament, enforcing  the  killing  or  stoning  to  death  either 
false  prophets,  blasphemers,  or  heretics  ?  but  admoni- 
tion, rejection,  or  leaving  them  to  the  judgment  of  God, 
if  obstinate  and  impenitent ;  and  giving  open  warning  to 
others  against  such,  and  their  pernicious  doctrines,  prac- 
tices, and  destruction,  as  the  holy  apostles  did,  2  Pe4. 
ii.  and  Jude's  epistle,  &,c. 


ISO  APPENDIX. 

Seeing  your  said  rector,  Edward  Cockson,  appears 
so  zealous  for  the  law  of  Moses  and  that  of  the  king  of 
Persia,  Ezra  vii.  2G,  to  be  executed  upon  such  as  he 
judges  heretics,  blasphemers,  false  prophets,  false 
teachers,  and  idolaters,  &,c. 

I  would  ask  him  or  any  of  you  his  brethren  these 
questions : 

Q.  1.  If  you  do  not  deem  the  papists  heretics,  ido- 
laters, and  blasphemers,  in  their  doctrine  and  belief  of 
transubstantiation,  their  eucharist,  their  sacrament  of 
the  altar,  and  adoration  given  thereunto,  as  to  Christ 
Jesus  his  body  and  blood  ? 

2.  Would  you  have  them  cut  off  or  stoned  to  death, 
who  are  of  that  persuasion  and  religion  or  profession 
with  the  Church  of  Rome,  or  only  the  Quakers? 

3.  Would  it  be  cither  Christian  or  safe  for  any,  es- 
teemed protestant  ministers,  to  follow  papists'  examples, 
so  as  to  excite  the  supreme  magistrate  or  civil  govern- 
ment, to  cut  off  or  put  (o  death  those  whom  they  think 
or  judge  heretics,  blasphemers,  idolaters,  &c. 

4.  Does  not  the  Church  of  Rome  judge  all,  both  you 
and  us,  who  dissent  from  that  Church,  to  be  heretics  ? 
And  what  is  the  consequence  aimed  at  thereby,  but  to 
cut  off  all  such  dissenters,  if  such  a  persecuting  power 
should  be  permitted  to  prevail  ?  So  that  according  to 
this  rector's  notion,  may  not  protestants  cut  off  all  pa- 
pists, and  papists  cut  off  all  protestants;  and  so  all  pro- 
fessors of  Christianity  become  extinct? 

5.  Are  not  persecutors  apt  to  misapply  those  laws 
intended  against  notorious  otlenders,  to  condemn,  punish, 
and  destroy  the  innocent  and  the  righteous;  as  did 
the  Jews  who  stoned  the  prophets  ?  2  Citron,  xxiv.  21. 
Mali.  xxi.  35.  xxiii.  37.  Luke  xiii.  34.  And  they  took 
up  stones  to  stone  Christ,  falsely  charging  Him  with 
blasphemy,  John  x.  31-33.  xi.  8.  And  they  stoned 
Stephen,  Ada  vii.  58,  59.  And  they  stoned  Paul  for 
preaching  the  Gospel  of  Christ  Jesus,  Acts  xiv.  19. 

6.  Can  you  reasonably  suppose  it  will  be  for  the 
honour  of  your  Church,  to  allow  of  any  of  your  breth- 


APPENDIX.  181 

ren,  reclors,  ministers,  or  members,  to  endeavour  to  in- 
cense the  government  to  severe  persecution,  as  this 
your  rector  Edward  Cockson  has  done  1 

Although  I  have  endeavoured  to  be  brief  in  this  en- 
quiry, yet  1  am  concerned,  on  retrospection,  to  add 
something  further. 

Whereas  the  said   rector  would   have  the  supreme 
magistrate  not  only  the  custos  ulriusquc  tabula3,  which 
is  a  high  undertaking;  and  would  have  the  care  com- 
mitted to  him  of  punishing  not  only  murderers,  adul- 
terers, and  thieves,  &c.  but  also  all  idolaters,  blas- 
phemers, and  false  prophets,  so  as  not  to  tolerate  any  of 
them,  but  to  root  them  out  of  his  dominions,  p.  6 :  here 
he  has  cut  out  heavy  work  for  the  supreme  magistrate 
and  governors.     But   who  must  be  judge,   and  upon 
whose  evidence.     If  the  priest  and  levite,  or  invidious 
persecuting  rector,  we  may  expect  no  compassion,  no 
mercy  nor  justice  from  him  or  them,  who  prejudged 
and  condemned  us  and  our  case  without  proof,  or  any 
just  or  clear  evidence  of  matter  of  fact.     As  this  our 
arbitrary  judge  and  dictator  has  passed  his  judgment, 
and  black  characters  of  idolaters,   blasphemers,  and 
false  prophets,  even  unto   banishment  and  death,  &c. 
aforehand ;  without  any  judicial  trial  or  Gospel  admi- 
nistration or  law  thereof,  for  the  punishments  assigned 
by  him  ;  to  make  the  civil  magistrate  rather  a  breaker 
of  the  two  tables,  than  custos  utriusque  tabulae.     For 
this  adversary's  invectives  do  not  tend  to  excite  the  civil 
magistrate  either  to  justice  or  lo  that  love  which  is  the 
fulfilling  and  end  of  the  law  or  decalogue,  but  to  ex- 
treme severity  and  persecution  against  his  neighbours; 
which  is  far  from  loving  his  neighbour  as  himself.     It 
would  become  him  and  his  brethien  to  be  better  ex- 
amples and  preachers,  in  spirit,  conversation,  and  doc- 
trine, than  any  of  them  to  be  incendiaries  to  the  per- 
secution and  ruin  of  their  quiet  neighl)Ours. 

And  whereas  our  persecuting  adversary  would  have 
the  same  severities  inflicted  upon  those  he  deems  here- 

VOL.    II.  Q 


182  APPENDIX. 

tics,  &,c.  under  the  Gospel  administration,  as  were 
commanded  to  be  inflicted  under  the  legal  upon  blas- 
phemers, Sic;  let  us  a  little  farther  examine  his  proofs. 

If  Rom.  xiii.  4.  be  insisted  upon,  and  it  be  thence  in- 
ferred that  the  magistrate  should  execute  wrath  upon 
false  teachers,  &-c.  because  he  bears  not  the  sword  in 
vain ;  surely  the  holy  apostle  did  not  intend  that  the 
magistrate,  in  the  Gospel  day,  should  kill  or  cut  off 
false  teachers,  or  cause  them  to  be  stoned  to  death  who 
are  mistaken  in  some  doctrine  or  prophecy  ;  but  rather 
that  they  should  be  better  persuaded,  convinced,  and 
converted  by  sound  doctrine. 

And  in  his  exhorting  to  be  subject  to  the  higher 
powers,  Rom.  xiii.  1.  he  could  not  mean,  that  the  Chris- 
tian believers  in  Christ,  then  in  Rome  or  elsev^here, 
should  subject  their  faith,  religion,  conscience,  and  wor- 
ship, to  the  wills  of  heathen  emperors  at  Rome,  or  to  the 
kings  or  rulers  of  the  earth  who  were  of  dilFerent  reli- 
gions; for  then  there  would  have  been  no  persecutions, 
no  martyrs  of  Jesus  Christ  under  the  Roman  emperors 
or  others,  as  there  were:  if  their  subjection  had  been 
such,  they  must  only  have  been  of  the  ruler's  religion, 
whether  idolater,  papist,  mahometan,  &c.  It  is  no 
Christian  argument  therefore,  to  strain  the  text  Rom. 
xiii.  to  such  an  uncertain,  unchristian,  and  I  may  say, 
irreligious  subjection ;  and  not  that  of  true  Christians 
and  martyrs  of  Jesus,  who  rather  submitted  to  deep  suf- 
ferings than  violate  their  conscience  or  Christian  reli- 
gion. 

1.  The  punishment  mentioned  Hcb.  x.  28, 29,  of  such 
adversaries,  rebellious  and  hardened  apostates  and  con- 
temners of  Christ  and  the  blood  of  his  covenant,  appears 
not  to  be  intended  of  such  like  temporal  punishment  or 
death  by  the  magistrate,  as  that  was  to  him  that  de- 
spised Moses's  law  under  that  dispensation  ;  but  rather 
divine  vengeance  or  fiery  indignation  from  God,  to  de- 
vour such  adversaries  and  wilful  contemners  of  the 
Truth.     See  Hcb.  x. 

Certainly  if  any  persons  do  so  backslide,  and  become 


APPENDIX. 


163 


such  wilful  sinners  and  adversaries  against  Christ  and 
his  Gospel  Dispensation,  after  they  have  received  the 
knowledge  of  the  Truth,  they  do  not  only  lose  and  forfeit 
the  blessed  effects  and  benefits  of  Christ's  sacrifice,  blood, 
and  atonement,  but  do  incur  nnuch  heavier  and  sorer 
punishment  from  the  hand  of  God,  as  Judge,  than  that 
of  a  temporal  death  to  the  despiscrs  of  Moses's  law. 

Our  God  is  and  will  be  a  consuming  fire  to  his  adver- 
saries and  enemies,  who  continue  in  rebellion  against 
Him,  his  Light,  Truth,  and  Spirit  of  Grace,  doing  de- 
spite thereunto  :  and  it  is  and  will  be  a  fearful  thing  to 
fall  into  the  hands  of  the  living  God  ;  when  there  re- 
mains no  more  a  sacrifice  for  sin,  but  a  certain  fearful 
looking  for  of  judgment  and  fiery  indignation  to  devour 
the  adversaries. 

2.  But  now  as  we  profess  Christianity  and  the  dis- 
pensation of  Christ  and  of  the  New  Covenant  of  mercy 
and  grace,  &.c.  let  us  consider  what  punishments  did 
ever  Christ  or  his  Gospel  ministers  assign,  or  excite  the 
civil  magistrates  unto,  against  persons  in  error  or  heresy  ? 
Did  they  tell  them  they  must  banish  them  or  hang 
them,  or  burn  them,  or  stone  them  to  death?  I  think 
not.     I  find  no  such  precept  in  the  New  Testament. 

The  sadducees  who  believed  no  resurrection,  neither 
angel  nor  spirit,  Alntl.  xxii.  23.  Mark  xii.  18.  Luke  xx. 
27.  ylcts  xxiii.  8;  did  Christ  deliver  them  into  the  hands 
of  the  magistrates,  to  punish  them  or  stone  them  to 
death,  according  to  the  law  of  Moses  t  No,  surely  ! 
He  rather  told  them  :  "  Ye  err,  not  knowing  the  Scrip- 
tures nor  the  power  of  God;"  and  taught  them  better, 
to  convince  them  of  their  error  and  to  persuade  them 
out  of  it. 

And  the  man  that  was  an  heretic,  what  punishment 
did  the  holy  apostle  assign  or  direct  against  him?  but 
after  admonition  once  or  twice  to  reject  him  I 

And  to  have  "  no  fellowship  with  the  unfruitful  works 
of  darkness;  but  rather  to  reprove  them." 

And  as  we  freely  acknowledge  magistracy  or  the 
civil  government  to  be  God's  ordinance,  appointed  for 


184  APPENDIX. 

the  punishment  of  evil  doers,  and  the  praise  of  them  that 
do  well ;  so  they  that  undertake  that  office  and  trust 
upon  them,  had  need  to  be  careful  that  they  do  not 
condemn  the  innocent  and  acquit  Ihe  guilty;  and  that 
they  be  tender  of  men's  lives,  liberties,  and  properties, 
especially  where  no  overt  act,  demeriling  such  penal- 
ties, can  be  proved.  And  also  that  they  be  careful  not 
to  condemn  persons  upon  reports  and  defamations  of  in- 
vidious or  mercenary  informers ;  as  Saul,  upon  the  re- 
port of  Doeg  the  Edomite,  caused  fourscore  and  five  of 
the  Lord's  priests  then  to  be  slain,  even  by  the  mis- 
chievous Edomite,  when  Saul's  own  servants  or  footmen 
would  not  do  it,  1  Sam.  xxii.  18. 

"  He  that  ruleth  over  men  must  be  just,  ruling  in  the 
fear  of  God  ;  and  he  shall  be  as  the  light  of  the  morn- 
ing when  the  sun  riseth,  even  a  morning  without  clouds  ; 
as  the  tender  grass  springing  out  of  the  earth  by  clear 
shining  after  rain,"  2  Satn.  xxiii.  3,  4.  So  Uiat  the  just 
ruler  in  the  fear  of  God,  must  have  a  clear  understand- 
ing and  judgment  in  the  fear  of  God  and  his  Light, 
therein  to  shine  in  justice,  righteousness,  mercy,  and 
truth  ;  which  will  be  to  the  great  comfort  and  refresh- 
ment of  the  righteous  and  tender  in  heart,  who  truly 
fear  God. 

It  is  mercy  and  truth  whereby  the  king's  throne  is 
established ;  without  which,  thrones  are  tottering, 
shaken,  and  soon  overturned.  And  therefore  ail  men 
in  power  and  authority  should  diligently  mind  God's 
power  and  wisdom,  whereby  they  may  stand  and  rule 
in  righteousness.  For  saith  that  Wisdom :  "  By  me 
kings  reign,  and  princes  decree  justice  :  by  me  princes 
rule,  and  nobles,  even  all  the  judges  of  the  earth,"  Prov. 
viii.  1.5,  16. 

It  is  not  because  they  are  made  kings  or  princes,  that 
that  they  reign  and  rule,  and  decree  justice  and  are 
established  ;  but  because  they  are  under  Wisdom's  con- 
duct who  are  just  men  and  rulers  fearing  God,  before 
whom  they  must  appear,  and  be  accountable  to  Him 
as  their  Judge,  who  is  the  righteous  Judge  of  all 


APPENDIX. 


185 


To  conclude,  if  any  should  suppose  that  I  have  re- 
flected too  hardly  upon  our  adversary  the  rector,  which 
nnay  allect  others  of  his  function,  I  may  sincerely  tell 
them  : 

1.  I  never  met  with  any  persecuting  adversary,  that 
has  written  more  invidiously  to  incense  the  government 
to  extreme  persecution  against  us,  &c.  than  he  has 
done  ;  as  appears  to  me  and  many  others. 

2.  1  have  not  at  all  designed  to  cast  his  olTence  upon 
any  others  of  his  function  or  priesthood,  who  are  not 
guilty  of  the  same  or  like  oflence,  nor  countenancers 
or  approvers  thereof;  as  1  believe  many  of  them  are 
not,  but  of  a  better  principle,  nature,  and  temper,  than 
to  endeavour  to  raise  persecution,  to  ruin  their  honest, 
peaceable  neighbours  for  religion  and  conscience  :  as 
the  ditference  is  apparent,  by  the  severe  persecutions 
our  Friends  meet  withal  from  some  of  the  clergy,  and 
the  moderation  of  others. 

I  pray  God  in  mercy  humble  and  subject  all  to  his 
wisdom  and  conduct,  by  his  divine  power. 

G.  W. 


Q  2 


THE 


CHRISTIAN    DOCTRINE 


AND 


SOCIETY 


OP  THE 


CLEARED  FROM 

THE  REPROACH  OF  THE   LATE    DIVISION  OF  A  FEW 
IN  SOME  PART  OF  AMERICA ; 

As  not  being  justly  chargeable  upon  the  Body  of  the 
said  People,  there  or  elsewhere. 


Printed  in  the  Year  1693. 


Now  I  beseech  you,  brethren,  mark  them  diligently  which  canso 
divisions  and  offences,  contrary  to  the  doctrine  which  ye  have 
learned,  and  avoid  them,  Rom.  xvi.  17. 

Let  all  bitterness,  and  vvratli,  and  anger,  and  clamour,  and  evil- 
speaking,  be  put  away  from  you,  with  all  malice.  And  be  ye 
kind  one  to  another,  tender-hearted,  forgiving  one  another,  even 
as  God,  for  Christ's  sake,  hath  forgiven  you,  Ephcs.  iv.  31,32. 


THB 


CHRISTIAN  DOCTRINE,  &c. 


Whereas  divers  accounts  have  been  lately  pub- 
lished in  print,  of  some  late  division  and  disputes  be- 
tween some  persons  under  the  name  of  Quakers,  in 
Pennsylvania,  about  several  fundamental  doctrines  of 
the  Christian  faith,  (as  it  is  pretended  by  one  party,) 
which  being  particularly  mentioned,  and  thereupon 
occasion  very  unduly  taken  by  our  adversaries,  to 
reproach  both  the  Christian  ministry  and  the  whole 
body  of  the  people  commonly  called  Quakers,  and  their 
holy  and  Christian  profession,  both  in  England  and  else- 
where, though  no  way  concerned  in  the  said  divisions 
or  matters  charged  ;  but  rather  grieved  and  troubled 
at  it,  and  at  the  indiscreet  and  reproachful  manage- 
ment thereof  in  print,  to  the  amusing  and  troubling  the 
world  therewith,  and  giving  occasion  to  the  loose,  igno- 
rant, and  profane,  to  slight  and  contemn  the  Truth,  and 
the  interest  of  the  tender  religion  of  our  Lord  Jesus 
Christ ; 

We  are  therefore  tenderly  concerned  for  Truth's 
sake  in  behalf  of  the  said  people,  (as  to  the  body  of 
them,  and  for  all  of  them  who  are  sincere  to  God,  and 
faithful  to  their  Christian  principle  and  profession,)  to 
use  our  just  endeavours  to  remove  the  reproach,  and 
all  causeless  jealousies  concerning  us,  touching  those 
doctrines  of  Christianity,  or  any  of  them  pretended  or 
supposed,  to  be  in  question  in  the  said  division  ;  in  rela- 
tion whereunto  we  do,  in  the  fear  of  God,  and  in  sim- 
plicity and  plainness  of  his  Truth  received,  solemnly 
and  sincerely  declare,  what  our  Christian  belief  and 


190  APPENDIX. 

profession  has  been,  and  still  is,  in  respect  to  Jesus 
Christ  the  only  begotten  Son  of  God  ;  his  suffering, 
death,  resurrection,  glory,  light,  power,  great  day  of 
judgment,  &c. 

We  sincerely  profess  faith  in  God  by  his  only  begot- 
ten Son  Jesus  Christ,  as  being  our  Light  and  Life,  our 
only  way  to  the  Father,  and  also  our  only  Mediator 
and  Advocate  with  the  Father.* 

That  God  created  all  things ;  He  made  the  worlds  by 
his  Son  Jesus  Christ,  lie  being  that  powerful  and  Liv- 
ing Word  of  God  by  whom  all  things  were  made  ;t  and 
that  the  Father,  the  Word,  and  the  Holy  Spirit  are  one 
in  divine  being  inseperable  ;  one  true,  living,  and  eter- 
nal God  blessed  for  ever.J 

Yet  that  this  Word  or  Son  of  God,  in  the  fulness  of 
time  took  llesh,  became  perfect  man — according  to  the 
flesh  descended  and  came  of  the  seed  of  Abraham  and 
David,  II  but  was  miraculously  conceived  by  the  Holy 
Ghost,  and  born  of  the  Virgin  Mary.§  And  also  fur- 
ther declared  powerfully  to  be  the  Son  of  God,  accord- 
ing to  the  spirit  of  sanctilication,  by  the  resurrection 
from  the  dead.U 

That  in  the  Word  or  Son  of  God,  was  life  :  and  the 
same  life  was  the  Light  of  men :  and  that  He  was  that 
true  Light  w4iich  enlightens  every  man  coming  into 
the  world.**  And  therefore  that  men  are  to  believe  in 
the  Light,  that  they  may  become  children  of  the 
Light.ff  Hereby  we  believe  in  Christ  the  Son  of  God, 
as  He  is  the  Light  and  Life  within  us  ;  and  wherein  we 
must  needs  have  sincere  respect  and  honour  to  and 
belief  in  Christ,  as  in  his  own  unapproachable  and  in- 
comprehensible glory  and  fulness,JJ  as  He  is  the  Foun- 
tain of  Life  and  Light,  and  giver  thereof  unto  us; 
Christ,  as  in  himself  and  as  in  us,  being  not  divided. 
And  that,  as  man,  Christ  died  for  our  sins,  rose  again, 

*  Heb.  xii.  2.  1  Pet.  i.  21.  Jolin  xiv  6.  1  Tim.  ii.  v.  t  Ephes. 
iii.  9.  John  i.  1,2,  3.  Ilcb.  i.  2.  |  1  John  v.  7.  ||  Rom.  i.  3,  4. 
{Mat.  i.  23.  ITRom.  i.3,  4.  ♦*Johni.  4.  9.  tt  John  xii.  36.  Isa. 
ii.  5.    \X  1  Tim.  vi.  16. 


CHRISTIAN    DOCTRINE.  191 

and  was  received  up  into  glory  in  the  heavens:*  He 
having,  in  his  dying  for  all,  been  that  one  great  univer- 
sal oiJering  and  sacrifice  for  peace,  atonement,  and 
reconcihation  between  God  and  man.f  And  He  is  the 
propitiation  not  for  our  sins  only,  but  for  the  sins  of  the 
whole  world.J  We  were  reconciled  by  his  death,  but 
saved  by  his  life. 

That  Jesus  Christ  who  sitteth  at  the  right  hand  of 
the  throne  of  the  Majesty  in  the  heavens,  is  yet  our 
King,  High  Priest,  and  Prophet  ;|]  in  his  church  a  min- 
ister of  the  sanctuary  and  of  the  true  tabernacle  which 
the  Lord  pitched  and  not  man.§  He  is  Intercessor  and 
Advocate  with  the  Father  in  heaven,  and  there  appear- 
ing in  the  presence  of  God  for  us  ;TI  being  touched 
with  the  feeling  of  our  infirmities,  sutFerings,  and  sor- 
rows; and  also  by  his  Spirit  in  our  hearts  He  maketh 
intercession  according  to  the  will  of  God,  crying,  Abba, 
Father.** 

For  any  whom  God  hath  giftedff  and  called  sincere- 
ly to  preach  faith  in  the  same  Christ,  both  as  within 
and  without  us,  cannot  be  to  preach  two  Christs,  but 
one  and  the  same  Lord  Jesus  Christ  ;JJ  having  respect 
to  those  degrees  of  our  spiritual  knowledge  of  Christ 
Jesus  in  us,||||  and  to  his  own  unspeakable  fulness  and 
glory§§,  as  in  Himself,  in  his  own  entire  being;  where- 
in Christ  Himself  and  the  least  measure  of  his  light  or 
life  as  in  us  or  in  mankind,  are  not  divided  nor  separa- 
ble, any  more  than  the  sun  is  from  its  light.  And  as  He 
ascended  far  above  all  heavens,  that  He  might  fill  all 
things,TI^  his  fulness  cannot  be  comprehended  or  con- 

*  1  Pet.  iii.  18.  I  Tim.  iii.  16.  Mat.  x\x.  28,  and  xxv.  31.  Luke 
ii.  26,  and  .\xiv.  26.  ^  Rom.  v.  10,  11.  Hcb.  ii.  17,  18.  Epiies.  ii. 
16,  17.  Col.  i.  20,  21,22.  $  1  Jo'm '••  2.  2  Cor.  v.  14,  15.  Heb.  ii. 
9.  jl  Zccli.  ix.  9.  Luke  xix.  38.  John  xii.  15.  Heb.  iii.  1.  6.  Deut, 
iviii.  15.  18.  Acts  iii.  22.  and  vii.  37.  }  Heb.  viii.  I,  2.  If  Heb.  vii. 
2.5.  Heb.  ix.  24.  **  Rom.  viii.  26,  27,  34.  Gal.  iv  6.  tt  Ephes. 
iii.  7.  1  Peter  iv.  10.  tt  •  Cor.  viii.  6.  xv.  iii.  8.  ||||  John  iv.  26,  and 
xvi.  13,  14,  15.     {(  John  i.  16.     HH  Ephcs.  iv.  10. 


192  APPENDIX. 

tained  in  any  finite  creature,*  but  is  in  measure  known 
and  experienced  in  us,  as  we  are  capable  to  receive 
the  same ;  as  of  his  fulness  we  have  received  grace  for 
grace.  Christ  our  Mediator  received  the  Spirit,  not 
by  measuref  but  in  fulness  ;  but  to  every  one  of  us  is 
given  grace,  according  to  the  measure  of  hisgift.J 

That  the  Gospel  of  the  grace  of  God  should  be 
preached  in  the  Name  of  the  Father,  Son,  and  Holy 
Ghost, II  being  one§  in  power,  wisdom,  and  goodness,  and 
indivisible,  or  not  to  be  divided  in  the  great  work  of 
man's  salvation. 

We  sincerely  confess  and  believe  in  Jesus  Christ, 
both  as  He  is  true  God  and  perfect  man,^  and  that  He 
is  the  Author  of  our  living  faith  in  the  power  and  good- 
ness of  God,  as  manifest  in  his  Son  Jesus  Christ,  and 
by  his  own  blessed  Spirit  or  Divine  Unction  revealed  in 
us,**  whereby  we  inwardly  feel  and  taste  of  his  good- 
ness,ff  life  and  virtue;  so  as  our  souls  live  and  prosper 
by  and  in  Him,  and  in  the  inward  sense  of  this  Divine 
Power  of  Christ,  and  faith  in  the  same ;  and  this  inward 
experience  is  absolutely  necessary  to  make  a  true,  sin- 
cere, and  perfect  Christian  in  spirit  and  life. 

That  Divine  honour  and  worship  is  due  to  tlie  Son 
ofGod;J:i:  and  that  He  is  in  true  faith  to  be  prayed 
unto,  and  the  Name  of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  called 
upon,  as  the  primitive  Christians  did,|l||,  because  of  the 
glorious  union  or  oneness  of  the  Father  and  the  Son;§§ 
and  that  we  cannot  acceptably  olFer  up  prayers  or 
praises  to  God,  nor  receive  a  gracious  answer  or  bless- 
ing from  God,  but  in  and  through  his  dear  Son  Christ. 

That  Christ's  body  which  was  crucified,  was  not  the 
Godhead,  yet  by  the  power  of  God  was  raised  from  the 
dead;  and  that  the  same  Christ  who  was  therein  cru- 
cified, ascended  into  heaven  and  gloryTI*lf  is  not  ques- 

*  Col.  i.  19.  anil  ii.  9.  +  John  iii.  34.  |  Ephcs.  iv.  7.  ||  Mat. 
xxviii.  19.  }  John  i.  1,2,3,  4.  t  John  i.  1,  2.  Rem.  ix.  5.  1  John 
V.  20.  I  Tim.  ii.5.  ■  *  1  John  ii.  20.  27.  and  i.  1.  tt  I  Pclcr  ii.  3. 
John  vi.  33.  35.  51.  57,  58.  ||  John  v.  23.  Hob.  i.  6.  ||||  1  Cor.  i.  2. 
Acts  vii.  59.     }}  John  x.  30.  1  John  v.  7.     H  If  Luke  xxiv.  26. 


CHRISTIAN    DOCTRINE.  193 

tioned  by  us.  His  flesh  saw  no  corruption  ;*  it  did  not 
corrupt ;  but  3'^et  doubtless  his  body  was  changed  into 
a  more  gloriousf  and  heavenly  condition  than  it  was 
when  subject  to  divers  sufferings  on  earth ;  but  how 
and  what  manner  of  change  it  met  withal  after  it  was 
raised  from  the  dead,  so  as  to  become  such  a  glorious 
body  as  it  is  declared  to  be,  is  too  wonderful  for  mor- 
tals to  conceive,  apprehend,  or  pry  into  ;  and  more 
meet  for  angels  to  see.  The  Scripture  is  silent  therein, 
as  to  the  manner  thereof,  and  we  are  not  curious  to  en- 
quire or  dispute  it ;  nor  do  we  esteem  it  necessary  to 
make  ourselves  wise  abovej  what  is  written,  as  to  the 
manner  or  condition  of  Christ's  glorious  body  as  in  hea- 
ven, any  more  than  to  enquire  how  Christ  appeared  in 
divers  manners  or  forms,]|  or  how  He  came  in  among 
his  disciples,  the  door  being  shut  ;§  or  how  He  vanished 
out  of  their  sight,  after  He  was  risen.  However,  we 
have  cause  to  believe  his  body,  as  in  heaven,  is  changed 
into  a  most  glorious  condition,  far  transcending  what  it 
was  in  on  earth ;  otherwise  how  should  our  low  body 
be  changed,  so  as  to  be  made  like  unto  his  glorious 
body  ;^  for  when  He  was  on  earth,  and  attended  with 
sufferings.  He  was  said  to  be  like  unto  us  in  all  things, 
sin  only  excepted  :**  which  may  not  be  said  of  Him  as 
now  in  a  state  of  glory,  as  He  prayed  for  ;ff  otherwise 
where  would  be  the  change  both  in  Him  and  us  ? 

True  and  living  faith  in  Christ  Jesus  the  Son  of  the 
Living  God,JJ  has  respect  to  his  entire  being  and  ful- 
ness; to  Him  entirely,  as  in  Himself,  and  as  all  power 
in  heaven  and  earth  is  given  unto  him  ;{|{|  and  also  an 
eye  and  respect  to  the  same  Son  of  God,§§  as  inwardly 
making  Himself  known  in  the  soul  in  every  degree  of 
his  Light,  Life,  Spirit,  Grace,  and  Truth  ;  and  as  He 

*  Psalm  xvi.  10.  Acts  ii.  31,  and  xiii.  35.  37.  t  Phil.  iii.  21 .  :j:  1 
Cor.  iv.  4.  6.  ||  Mark  xvi.  12.  John  xx.  15.  J  John  xx.  19.  Luke 
xxiv.  36,  37,  and  xxiv,  31.  IT  Phil.  iii.  2 1.  **  Heb.  ii.  17,  and  iv. 
15.  tt  John  xvii.  5.  Xt  John  xiv.  1.  |{{|  Mat.  xxviii,  18.  xi.  27. 
John  xvii.  2.  Heb.  i.  4.  ii.  8.  55  John  xiv.  23.  xvii.  21,  22,  23,  24. 
26. 

VOL.   II.  R 


194  APPENDIX. 

is  both  the  Word  of  Faith  and  a  Quickening  Spirit  in 
us,*  whereby  He  is  the  immediate  cause,  author,  ob- 
ject, and  strength  of  our  Hving  faith  in  his  Name  and 
rower,  and  of  the  work  of  our  salvation  from  sin  and 
bondage  of  corruption.  And  the  Son  of  God  cannot  be 
divided  from  the  least  or  lowest  appearance  of  his  own 
Divine  Light  or  Life  in  us  or  in  mankind,  no  more  than 
the  sun  from  its  own  light ;  nor  is  the  sufficiency  of  his 
Light  within,  by  us  set  up  in  opposition  to  Him  the 
Man  Christ,  or  his  fulness  considered  as  in  Himself,  or 
without  us ;  nor  can  any  measure  or  degree  of  light  re- 
ceived from  Christ,  as  such,  be  properly  called  the 
fulness  of  Christ,  or  Christ  as  in  fulness,  nor  exclude 
Him,  so  considered,  from  being  our  complete  Saviour: 
for  Christ  himself  to  be  our  Light,  our  Life  and  Savi- 
our,! is  so  consistent,  that  without  his  Light  we  could 
not  know  life,  nor  Him  to  save  us  from  sin  or  deliver 
us  from  darkness,  condemnation  or  wrath  to  come. 

And  where  the  least  degree  or  measure  of  this  Light 
and  Life  of  Christ  within,  is  sincerely  waited  for,  fol- 
lowed, and  obeyed,  there  is  a  blessed  increase  of  light 
and  grace  known  and  felt :  as  the  path  of  the  just,  it 
shines  more  and  more  until  the  perfect  day  ;J  and 
thereby  a  growing  in  grace,  and  in  the  knowledge  of 
God,  and  of  our  Lord  and  Saviour  Jesus  Christ,  hath 
been  and  is  truly  experienced.  And  this  Light,  Life, 
or  Spirit  of  Christ  within,  for  they  are  one  Divine  Prin- 
ciple, is  sufficient  to  lead  into  all  truth,  having  in  it  the 
divers  ministrations  both  of  judgment  and  mercy,  both 
of  law  and  gospel ;  even  that  gospel  which  is  preached 
in  every  intelligent  creature  under  heaven.  It  does 
not  only,  as  in  its  first  ministration,  manifest  sin,  and 
reprove  and  condemn  for  sin  ;  but  also  excites  and  leads 
them  that  believe  in  it  to  true  repentance,  and  there- 
upon to  receive  that  mercy,  pardon,  and  redemption  in 
Christ  Jesus,  which  He  has  obtained  for  mankind,  on 

♦  1  Cor.  XV.  45.    Rom.  X.  7,  8.     f  John  i.  4.  9.  iii.  19,  20.  x.  ii.  35, 
36.  46.  viii.  12.  |  Prov.  iv.  18.     Pa.  rixvi.  9. 


CHRISTIAN    DOCTRINK.  195 

those  gospel  terms  of  faith  in  his  Name,  true  repent- 
ance, and  conversion  to  Christ,  thereby  required. 

So  that  the  Light  and  Life  of  the  Son  of  God  within, 
truly  obeyed  and  followed,  as  being  the  principle  of  the 
second  or  new  covenant,  as  Christ  the  Light  is  confess- 
ed to  be,  even  as  He  is  the  Seed  or  Word  of  Faith  in 
all  men  ;  this  does  not  leave  men  or  women  who  be- 
lieve in  the  Light,  under  the  first  covenant,  nor  as  sons 
of  the  bond-woman,  as  the  literal  Jews  were  when  gone 
from  the  Spirit  of  God  and  his  Christ  in  them  ;  but  it 
naturally  leads  them  into  the  new  covenant,  into  the 
new  and  living  way,  and  to  the  adoption  of  sons,  to  be 
children  and  sons  of  the  free-woman,  of  Jerusalem  from 
above. 

It  is  true  that  we  ought  not  to  lay  aside,  nor  should 
any  undervalue,  but  highly  esteem  true  preaching  and 
the  Holy  Scriptures,  and  the  sincere  belief  and  faith  of 
Christ  as  He  died  for  our  sins,  and  rose  again  for  our 
justification,  together  with  Christ's  inward  and  spiritual 
appearance  and  work  of  grace  in  the  soul,  livingly  to 
open  the  mystery  of  his  death,  and  perfectly  to  etTect 
our  reconciliation,  sanctification,  and  justification  ;  and 
wherever  Christ  qualifies  and  calls  any  to  preach  and 
demonstrate  the  mystery  of  his  coming,  death,  and  re- 
surrection, &c.  even  among  the  gentiles,  Christ  ought 
accordingly  to  be  both  preached,  and  believed  and  re- 
ceived. 

Yet  supposing  that  there  have  been,  or  are  such  pi- 
ous and  conscientious  gentiles,  in  whom  Christ  was  and 
is  as  the  Seed  or  Principle  of  the  second  or  new  cove- 
nant, the  Light,  the  Word  of  Faith,  as  is  granted,  and 
that  such  live  uprightly  and  faithfully  to  that  Light 
they  have,  or  to  what  is  made  known  of  God  in  them, 
and  who,  therefore,  in  that  state,  cannot  perish,  but 
shall  be  saved,  as  is  also  confessed ;  and  supposing  these 
have  not  the  outward  advantage  of  preaching.  Scrip- 
ture, or  thence  the  knowledge  of  Christ's  outward  com- 
ing, and  being  outwardly  crucified  and  risen  from  the 
dead,  can  such,  thus  considered,  be  justly  excluded 


19G  APPENDIX. 

Chrislianity,  or  the  covenant  of  grace,  as  to  the  virtue, 
life,  and  nature  thereof,  or  truly  deemed  no  Christians, 
or  void  of  any  Christian  faith  in  the  hfe  and  power  of 
the  Son  of  God  within,  or  he  only  sons  of  the  first  cove- 
nant and  bondwoman,  HUe  the  hteral  outside  Jews? 
Or  must  all  be  excluded  any  true  knowledge  or  faith 
of  Christ  within  them,  unless  they  have  the  knowledge 
of  Christ  as  without  them  ?  No  sure !  for  that  would 
imply  insufficiency  in  Christ  and  l)is  Light  as  within 
them,  and  frustrateGod's  good  end  and  promise  of  Christ, 
and  his  free  and  universal  love  and  grace  to  mankind 
in  sending  his  Son.  We  charitably  believe  (he  contra- 
ry, that  they  must  have  some  true  faith  and  interest  in 
Christ  and  his  mediation,  because  of  God's  free  love  in 
Christ  to  all  mankind,  and  Chrisfs  dying  for  all  men*, 
and  being  given  for  a  Light  of  the  gentiles,  and  for  sal- 
vation to  the  ends  of  the  earth.f  And  because  of  their 
living  up  sincerely  and  faithfully  to  his  Light  in  them, 
their  being  pious,  conscientious,  accepted,  and  saved,  as 
is  granted,  we  cannot  reasonably  think  a  sincere,  pious, 
or  godly  man,  wholly  void  of  Christianity,  of  what  na- 
tion soever  he  may  be ;  because  none  can  come  to  God 
or  godliness  but  by  Christ,J  by  his  Light  and  Grace  in 
them  ;  yet  grant  if  there  be  such  pious  and  sincere  men 
or  women  as  have  not  the  Scripture,  or  knowledge  of 
Christ  as  outwardly  crucified,  &.c.  they  are  not  perfect 
Christians  in  all  perfections,  as  in  all  knowledge,  and 
understanding  all  points  of  doctrine,  and  outward  pro- 
fession of  Christ ;  so  that  they  are  belter  than  they 
profess  or  pretend  to  be ;  they  are  more  Jews  inward 
and  Christians  inward  than  in  outward  show  or  pro- 
fession. 

There  are  Christians  sincere  and  perfect  in  kind  or 
nature,  in  life  and  substance,  though  not  in  knowledge 
and  understanding.  A  man  or  woman  having  the  life 
and  fruits  of  true  Christianity,  the  fruits  of  the  Spirit  of 

*  2  Cor.  V.  14,  15.        t  Isaiah  xlix.  6.     Luke  ii.  32.  Ac  ts  xiii 
47.     %  John  xiv.  6. 


CHRISTIAN  DOCTRINE.  197 

Christ  in  them,  who  can  talk  little  thereof,  or  of  creeds, 
points  or  articles  of  faith,  yea,  many  that  cannot  read 
letters,  yet  may  be  true  Christians  in  spirit  and  life  ; 
and  some  could  die  for  Christ  that  could  not  dispute 
for  Him.  And  even  infants  that  die  in  innocency,  are 
not  excluded  the  grace  of  God,  or  salvation  in  and  by 
Christ  Jesus  ;  the  image  and  nature  of  the  Son  of  God 
being  in  some  measure  in  them,  and  they  under  God's 
care  and  special  providence.    See  Maltheio,  xviii.  2.  10. 

And  though  we  had  the  Holy  Scriptures  of  the  Old 
and  New  Testament,  and  a  belief  of  Christ  crucified 
and  risen,  &c.  we  never  truly  knew  the  mystery  there- 
of until  we  were  turned  to  the  Light  of  his  Grace  and 
Spirit  within  us;  we  knew  not  what  it  was  to  be  re- 
conciled by  his  death,  and  saved  by  his  life,  or  what  it 
was  to  know  the  fellowship  of  his  sufferings,  the  power 
of  his  resurrection,  or  to  be  made  conformable  unto  his 
death — we  knew  not,  until  He  opened  our  eyes  and 
turned  our  minds  from  darkness  unto  his  own  Divine 
Light  and  Life  within  us. 

Notwithstanding,  we  do  so  sincerely  and  greatly 
esteem  and  value  the  Holy  Scriptures,  preaching,  and 
teaching  of  faithful,  divinely  inspired,  gifted,  and  quali- 
fied persons  and  ministers  of  Jesus  Christ,  as  being  great 
outward  helps,  and  instrumental  in  his  hand,  and  by  his 
Spirit  for  conversion ;  where  God  is  pleased  to  afford 
those  outward  helps  and  means ;  as  that  we  neither 
do  nor  may  oppose  the  sufficiency  of  the  Light  or  Spirit 
of  Christ  within  to  such  outward  helps  or  means,  so  as 
to  reject,  disesteem,  or  undervalue  them ;  for  they  all 
proceed  from  the  same  Light  and  Spirit,  and  tend  to 
turn  men's  minds  thereunto,  and  all  centre  therein. 

Nor  can  the  Holy  Scriptures  or  true  preaching  with- 
out, be  justly  set  in  opposition  to  the  Light  or  Spirit  of 
God  or  Christ  within  ;  for  his  faithful  messengers  are 
ministers  thereof,  being  sent  to  turn  people  to  the  same 
Light  and  Spirit  in  them,* 

•  Acts  iivi.  18.  Rom.  xii.  2.  2  Cor.  ir.6.  1  Pet.  ii.  9. 1  John  ii.  8. 

B  2 


198  APPENDIX. 

It  is  certain  that  great  is  the  mystery  of  godliness  in 
itself,  in  its  own  being  and  excellency,  namely,  that  God 
should  be  and  was  manifest  in  the  flesh,  justified  in  the 
spirit,  seen  of  angels,  preached  unto  the  gentiles,  be- 
lieved on  in  the  world,  and  received  up  into  glory. 

And  it  is  a  great  and  precious  mystery  of  godliness  and 
Christianity  also,  that  Christ  should  be  spiritually 
and  edectually  in  men's  hearts,  to  save  and  deliver  them 
from  sin,  satan,  and  bondage  of  corruption  ;  Christ  be- 
ing thus  revealed  in  true  believers,  and  dwelling  in 
their  hearts  by  faith:  Christ  within  the  hope  of  glory, 
our  light  and  life,  who  of  God  is  made  unto  us  wisdom, 
righteousness,  sanctification,  and  redemption,  1  Cor.  i. 
30.  And  therefore  this  mystery  of  godliness,  both  as 
in  its  own  being  and  glory,  and  also  as  in  men,  in  many 
hid  and  in  some  revealed,  hath  been  and  must  be  tes- 
tified, preached,  and  believed,  where  God  is  pleased  to 
give  commission  and  prepare  people's  hearts  for  the 
same,  and  not  in  man's  will. 

Concerning  the  resurrection  of  the  dead,  and  the 
great  day  of  judgment  yet  to  come,  beyond  the  grave 
or  after  death,  and  Christ's  coming  without  us,  to  judge 
the  quick  and  the  dead,  as  divers  questions  are  put  in 
such  terms;  what  the  Holy  Scriptures  plainly  declare 
and  testify  in  these  matters,  we  have  great  reason  to 
credit  and  not  to  question,  and  have  been  always  ready 
to  embrace  with  respect  to  Christ  and  his  apostles'  own 
testimony  and  prophecies. 

1.   For  the  doctrine  of  the  Resiirreciion. 

If  in  this  life  only  we  have  hope  in  Christ,  we  are  of 
all  men  most  miserable,  1  Cor.  xv.  19.  We  sincerely 
believe  not  only  a  resurrection  in  Christ  from  the  fallen 
sinful  state  here,  but  a  rising  and  ascending  into  glory 
with  llim  hereafter ;  that  when  He  at  last  appears  we 
may  appear  with  him  in  glory.  Col.  iii.  4.  1  Joh)i  iii.  2. 
But  that  all  the  wicked,  who  live  in  rebellion  against  the 
Light  of  Grace,  and  die  finally  impenitent,  shall  come 
forth  to  the  resurrection  of  condemnation. 


CHRISTIAN    DOCTRINE.  199 

And  that  the  soul  or  spirit  of  every  man  and  woman 
shall  be  reserved  i[i  its  own  distinct  and  proper  being, 
so  as  there  shall  be  as  many  souls  in  the  world  to  come 
as  in  this  ;  and  every  seed,  yea  every  soul,  shall  have 
its  proper  body,  as  God  is  pleased  to  give  it,  1  Cor.  xv. 
A  natural  body  is  sown,  a  spiritual  body  is  raised;  that 
being  first  which  is  natural,  and  afterward  that  which 
is  spiritual.  And  though  it  is  said  this  corruptible  shall 
put  on  incorruption,  and  this  mortal  shall  put  on  im- 
mortality ;  the  change  shall  be  such  as  flesh  and  blood 
cannot  inherit  the  kingdom  of  God ;  neither  doth  cor- 
ruption inherit  incorruption,  1  Cor.  xv.  We  shall  be 
raised  out  of  all  corruption  and  corruptibility,  out  of  all 
mortality  ;  and  the  children  of  God  and  of  the  resur- 
rection, shall  be  equal  to  the  angels  of  God  in  heaven.* 

And  as  the  celestial  bodies  do  far  excel  terrestrial ; 
so  we  expect  our  spiritual  bodies  in  the  resurrection  shall 
far  excel  what  our  bodies  now  are ;  and  we  hope  none 
can  justly  blame  us  for  ihus  expecting  better  bodies 
than  nou^  they  are.  Howbeit  we  esteem  it  very  un- 
necessary to  dispute  or  question  how  the  dead  are  raised, 
or  with  what  body  they  come  ;  but  rather  submit  that 
to  the  wisdom  and  pleasure  of  Almighty  God. 

2.  For  the  doctrine  of  Eternal  Judgment. 

God  hath  committed  all  judgment  unto  his  Son  Jesus 
Christ ;  and  He  is  Judge  both  of  quick  and  dead,  and 
of  the  states  and  ends  of  all  mankind,  John  v.  22.  27. 
A7,9  x.  42.  2  Tim.  iv.  1.   1  Pel.  iv.  5. 

That  there  shall  be  hereafter  a  great  harvest,  which 
is  the  end  of  the  world,  a  great  day  of  judgment,  and 
the  judgment  of  that  great  day,  the  Holy  Scripture  is 
clear.f  When  the  Son  of  Man  cometh  in  his  glory,  and 
all  the  holy  angels  with  Him,  then  shall  He  sit  upon 
the  throne  of  his  glory,  and  before  Him  shall  be  gather- 
ed all  nations,  &c.  Mat.  xxv.  31,  32.  to  the  end,  com- 
pared with  chap.  xxii.  31.  Mark  viii.  38.  Luke  ix.  26. 

*  Matthew  xxii.  30.     Markxii.  25,    Luke  xx.  36. 
t  Mat.  xiii.  39,  40,  41.  x.  15.  xi.  24.     Jude  6.  ' 


200  APPENDIX. 

and  1  Cor.  xv.  52.  2  Thes.  i.  7, 8.  lo  the  end,  and  1  Thes. 
iv.  16.  Rpv.xx.  12,  13,  14,  15. 

That  this  blessed  Heavenly  Man,  this  Son  of  Man, 
who  hath  so  deeply  suiFercd,  and  endured  so  many 
great  indignities  and  persecutions  from  his  adversaries, 
both  to  Himself  and  his  members  and  brethren,  will  at 
last,  even  in  the  last  and  great  day,  signally  and  mani- 
festly appear  in  glory  and  triumph,  attended  with  all 
his  glorious  heavenly  host  and  retinue,  before  all  na- 
tions, before  all  his  enemies  and  those  that  have  denied 
Him.  This  will  be  to  their  great  terror  and  amaze- 
ment :  that  this  most  glorious  Heavenly  Man  and  his 
brethren,  that  have  been  so  much  contemned  and  set 
at  nought,  should  be  thus  exalted  over  their  enemies 
and  persecutors,  in  glory  and  triumph,  is  a  righteous 
thing  with  God ;  and  that  they  that  suffer  with  Him, 
should  appear  with  Him  in  glory  and  dignity  when  He 
thus  appears  at  last.  Christ  was  Judge  of  the  world 
and  the  prince  thereof,  when  on  earth,  John  ix.  39.  xii. 
31 ;  He  is  still  Judge  of  the  world,  the  wickedness  and 
prince  thereof,  by  his  Light,  Spirit,  and  Gospel  in  men's 
hearts  and  consciences,  John  xvi.  8.  II.  Mat.  xii.  18. 
20.  Isa.  xlii.  1.  Rom.  ii.  IG.  1  Pet.  iv.  6;  And  He  will 
be  the  judge  and  final  determiner  thereof  in  that  great 
day  appointed;  God  having  appointed  a  day  wherein 
He  will  Judge  the  world  in  righteousness  by  that  Man 
whom  He  hath  ordained.  Christ  foretold,  it  shall  be 
more  tolerable  for  them  of  the  land  of  Sodom  and  Go- 
morrah in  the  day  of  judgment,  than  for  that  city  or 
people  that  would  not  receive  his  messengers  or  minis- 
ters, &c.  Mat.  X.  15.  xi.  24.  Mark  vi.  11.  Luke  x.  12. 
14.  It  is  certain  that  God  knows  how  to  deliver  the 
godly  out  of  all  their  trials  and  afflictions,  and  at  last 
to  bring  them  forth  and  raise  them  up  into  glory  with 
Christ;  so  He  knoweth  also  how  to  reserve  the  unjust 
and  fmally  impenitent  unto  the  day  of  Judgment,  to  be 
punished,  2  Pit.  ii.  9.  He  will  bring  them  forth  unto 
the  day  of  destruction,  Job  xxi.  30.  The  Lord  can  and 
will  reserve  such  impenitent,  presumptuous,  and  rebel- 


CHRISTIAN    DOCTRINE.  201 

lious  criminals,  as  bound  under  chains  of  darkness,  as 
were  the  fallen  angels,  unto  the  judgment  of  the  great 
day.  Jade  6.  Mat.  xxv.  30.  It  is  not  for  us  to  determine 
or  dispute  the  manner  how  they  shall  be  so  reserved  ; 
but  leave  it  to  God  :  He  knows  how. 


Touching  the  opinion  of  the  revolution  or  transmigra- 
tion of  human  souls,  or  their  passing  out  of  one  body 
into  another,  &c.  as  it  is  deemed  originally  to  have 
sprung  from  the  heathen,  and  was  received  among  Jews 
and  some  others  by  tradition,  and  said  to  be  the  opin- 
of  Empedocles,  Pythagoras,  and  the  Egyptians,  and 
partly  of  Julian  the  apostate  when  he  dreamed  that  the 
soul  of  Alexander  the  Great  was  crept  into  his  carcass, 
or  rather  that  he  was  Alexander  himself  in  another 
body;  and  thereupon  rejecting  the  suit  of  the  Persians 
for  peace,  presumptously  proceeded  in  the  war  and  to 
bloodshed  against  them,  until,  at  unawares,  he  got  his 
death's  wound,  according  as  is  more  fully  related  in 
history;  particularly  Socrates's  Scholasticus,  lib.  1.  ch. 
17.  and /i;'6.  iii.  ch.  IS.  Eccles.  Chron.  fol.  bll.  See 
also  Dr.  Hammond's  Annotations  on  John  ix.  1,2,3. 
We  are  not  concerned  in  any  such  notion,  but,  as  a 
people  are  wholly  clear  of  it. 

We  deem  it  neither  necessary  to  faith,  nor  safe  to  re- 
ceive or  defend,  as  either  held  by  those  heathen  Egyp- 
tians, or  Jews  aforesaid  ;  nor  as  it  is  insinuated  in  a  late 
pamphlet  of  200  Queries,  concerning  the  doctrine  of  the 
Revolution  of  Human  Souls,  supposing  twelve  revolu- 
tioi\s  or  twelve  distinct  intervals  of  life  to  every  man, 
as  being  twelve  several  times  born  into  the  world  ;  for 
each  one  to  live  or  consummate  the  space  of  1000  years 
on  earth.  Though  this  opinion  of  such  revolution  ap- 
pears not  to  be  a  point  in  present  controversy  in  the 
book  aforesaid,  or  in  Pennsylvania,  nor  maintained  as 
any  Divine  opening,  revelation,  or  necessary  article  of 
faith,  but  rather  evaded  from  being  publicly  controvert- 
ed ;  yet  inasmuch  as  there  appears  some  ground  of  sus- 
picion in  the  case,  and  as  it  seems  to  be  favoured  impli- 


202  APPENDIX. 


citly  by  some ;  therefore  that  we  as  a  people  may  not 
be  suspected  about  it,  we  sincerely  declare  our  clear- 
ness from  the  said  opinion,  as  really  esteeming  it  not 
safe  to  propagate  or  maintain  or  trouble  peoples'  heads 
or  minds  with  it;  but  that  all  should  improve  their 
present  time  and  mercies.  And  we  are  the  less  con- 
cerned about  the  aforesaid  queries  and  doctrine,  be- 
cause we  find  not  any  known  person  or  persons  of 
credible  authority,  that  will  adventure  to  assert  that 
opinion,  either  as  divinely  revealed  or  opened,  or  as 
necessary  to  be  believed  or  received  as  an  article  of 
faith,  or  that  will  undertake  to  demonstrate  how  many 
times  or  intervals  of  life  they  themselves  have  lived  on 
earth,  and  what  transactions  or  remarkable  passages, 
or  things  good  and  bad,  they  have  done  or  passed 
through  in  those  their  supposed  past  intervals  of  life. 


OHKiSTIAK    UOOTRIKH.  203 


CONCLUSION. 


To  conclude  :  As  we  are  persuaded  want  of  walking 
in  the  true  Light,  and  want  of  Christian  charity,  is  the 
great  cause  of  divisions  in  professed  Christian  societies 
of  all  sorts,  and  of  this  difference  among  a  few  persons 
in  America,  professing  the  same  Light  and  Truth  with 
us  :  we  are  ashamed  of  and  surprized  at  the  bitter  lan- 
guage and  severe  consequences  and  treatment,  in  some 
of  the  printed  books  from  one  party,  and  the  exposing 
of  the  weaknesses  and  unwarrantable  expressions  of 
some  of  the  other,  to  the  open  enemies  of  both,  and  of 
religion  itself;  all  which,  as  also  to  make  any  public 
rent  in  a  religious  society  on  personal  offences  or  pri- 
vate occasions,  are  greatly  unbecoming  our  Christian 
profession,  charity,  or  Society. 

And  we  pray  God  rebuke  and  stop  this  troublesome 
spirit  of  enmity  and  division  wherever  it  is  ;  for  it  makes 
great  disturbance  and  trouble  in  the  creation,  and 
where  it  enters  in  church  or  state  ;  yet  its  ill  work  is 
no  new  thing.  It  was  the  same  spirit  that  infested  and 
troubled  the  primitive  Christian  churches,  causing  divi- 
sions and  offences  contrary  to  the  Gospel  of  peace,  at 
first  received,  and  whereby  parties  and  schisms  were 
made ;  and  one  said  I  am  of  Paul,  another  of  ApoUos, 
another  of  Cephas ;  which  carnality  the  apostle  re- 
proved, as  knowing  and  testifying  that  Christ,  whom 
they  all  professed,  is  not  divided.  And  if  Christian 
tenderness  and  charity  might  influence  all  parties,  we 
see  no  real  cause  for  these  few  persons  aforesaid  to 
divide  or  separate  outwardly,  especially  about  doctrine, 
seeing  both  profess  one  Light,  one  Spirit,  one  God,  and 


204  APPENDIX. 

one  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  and  faith  in  Him,  and  sincerely 
to  believe  the  Holy  Scriptures.  And  even  the  person 
charging  the  other  in  print,  professes  to  "own  the  body 
of  the  people  called  Quakers,  and  seems  to  approve  of 
our  ancient,  faithful,  and  generally  approved  Friends, 
writers  or  publishers  of  our  doctrines  and  principles, 
and  preachers  among  us  generally  owned  and  approved 
by  us,  as  men  of  sound  judgment  and  understanding, 
and  as  owning  the  fundamental  articles  of  the  Christian 
and  Protestant  faith."  Thus  far  the  person  charging, 
in  his  "Serious  Appeal,"  page  6.  As  also  the  same 
person  further  openly  signified  at  the  other  Friends' 
meeting,  that  "  he  and  his  Friends  had  unity  with  the 
most  there  as  to  the  main.  As  also  with  all  faithful 
Friends  every  where,  excepting  only  some  in  their 
meeting  that  were  unsound,"  &c. — "  Reason  and 
Causes,'''  page  2G.  And  therefore,  if  most  on  both  sides 
have  unity  as  to  the  main,  we  may  charitably  suppose 
they  do  not  ditfer  in  the  main  or  substance  of  Christian 
faitli  or  doctrine  before  cited,  and  sincerely  owned  and 
confessed  by  us ;  if  tenderly  and  duly  considered  by 
both  sides,  as  men  seeking  peace,  love,  and  concord. 
Wherefore  the  dilference  was  very  indiscreetly  man- 
aged, aggravated,  and  exposed  to  separation,  printing, 
and  reproach,  seeing  it  was  not  in  the  main. 

We  wholly  dislike  such  rending  and  tearing,  such 
dividing  and  aggravating  proceedings,  and  bitter  treat- 
ment, and  have  no  unity  therewith;  but  desire  the 
Lord  in  mercy  to  repair  the  breaches,  and  heal  the 
backslidings  among  them,  and  amongst  all  that  are  es- 
teemed Christian  professors  and  societies,  and  incline  all 
to  the  main,  to  the  True  Light,  to  the  substance  and 
life  of  Christianity,  to  true  love,  fervent  charity,  and 
tender-heartedness,  and  forgiveness  towards  one  ano- 
ther, and  to  follow  peace  with  all  men,  and  holiness ; 
without  which  no  man  shall  see  the  Lord. 


OHRISTIArf   DOCTRINE.  205 


A  POSTSCRIPT, 


RELATIPTG    TO    THE    DOCTRIIVE    OF    THE    RESURREOTIOti 
AND    ETERNAL    JUDGMENT. 


At  the  last  trump  of  God,  and  voice  of  the  archan- 
gel, the  dead  shall  be  raised  incorruptible ;  the  dead 
in  Christ  shall  rise  first,  1  Cot:  xv.  52.  1  Thes.  iv.  16, 
compared  with  Mat.  xxiv.  31. 

Many  are  often  alarmed  in  conscience  here  by  the 
Word  and  Voice  of  God,  who  stop  their  ears  and  slight 
those  warnings ;  but  the  great  and  final  alarm  of  the 
last  trumpet,  they  cannot  stop  their  ears  against  nor 
escape  :  it  will  unavoidably  seize  upon,  and  further 
awaken  them  finally  to  judgment.  They  that  will  not 
be  alarmed  in  their  consciences  unto  repentance,  nor 
out  of  their  sins  here,  must  certainly  be  alarmed  to 
judgment  hereafter. 

Whosoever  do  now  wilfully  shut  their  eyes,  hate,  con- 
temn or  shun  the  Light  of  Christ,  or  his  appearance 
within,  shall  at  last  be  made  to  see,  and  not  be  able  to 
shun  or  hide  themselves  from  his  glorious  and  dreadful 
appearance  from  Heaven  with  his  mighty  angels,  as 
with  lightning  and  in  flaming  fire,  to  render  vengeance 
on  all  them  that  know  not  God,  and  obey  not  the  Gos- 
pel of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  2  Thes.  i.  8.  Mat.  xxiv. 
27.  Luke  xvii.  24.  Dan.  vii.  9,  10.  Job  xxxvii.  3. 

And  though  many  now  evade  and  reject  the  inward 
convictions  and  judgment  of  the  Light,  and  shut  up  the 
records  or  books  thereof  in  their  own  consciences,  they 
shall  all  be  at  last  opened,  and  every  one  judged  oi 

VOL.    II.  s 


206  APPENDIX. 

these  things  recorded  therein,  according  to  their  works, 
Rev.  XX.  12,  ]3,  14,15. 

Signed  in  behalf  of  our  Christian  Profession  and 
People  aforesaid  ; 

George  Whitehead, 
Ambrose  Rigg, 
William  Fallowfield, 
James  Parke, 
Charles  Marshall, 
John  Bowater, 
John  Vaughton, 
William  Bingley. 


FINIS. 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA  LIBRARY 
Los  Angeles 

This  book  is  DUE  on  the  last  date  stamped  below. 


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